Jack R. Snider Young Band Director Award

A nationally recognized musician and educator, Mr. Snider worked to increase the number and excellence of bands at the university and across the state. He co-founded the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association and the Nebraska Marching Band Festival, this being the nation's largest indoor marching band competition. The Nebraska State Bandmasters Association honors him with the "Jack Snider Young Band Director Award."

One of the first innovations that Mr. Snider made with the marching band was a definite crowd-pleaser. He added the position of Solo Twirler to the band. This position was started in the year 1961, with the first twirler being the "Golden Girl", Joyce Burns.

Coach Bob Devaney came to the Nebraska campus in 1962, shortly after Jack Snider took control of the marching band. Devaney turned the Huskers into a national football powerhouse. The Huskers had managed two bowl trips prior to the Devaney era, the first to the 1941 Rose Bowl and the second to the 1955 Orange Bowl.

In 1974, the marching band toured Europe, giving concerts in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and England. Such exposure brought national recognition to the Nebraska band and attracted students from all over the country. This exposure also extended to the concert program which began to tour throughout the Midwest on a regular basis under Jack Snider's direction. The concert ensembles also began to receive prestigious performance invitations including the 1983 Bandmaster Association's annual convention in Kansas City.

This award was established by the NSBA executive board in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Association. Young directors from all geographic areas of Nebraska will be considered, with the possibility that several directors will receive the award. Nominees must be current members of NSBA, presently teaching in Nebraska, and in their third through seventh year of teaching. Nominations are requested from college directors, student teaching supervisors, school administrators, fellow directors, students or their parents.