Local students participate in Hawkeye Marching Band

More than 200 current University of Iowa students are members of the 2021 Hawkeye Marching Band, one of the "top ten college marching bands in the nation," according to CNN Headline News and one of the Big Ten Conference's marching bands whose halftime show is "worth the watch," according to Sports Illustrated.

The 2021 Hawkeye Marching Band - affectionately known as "Band 141" by its membership - will once again be the sound of Iowa Football and the heartbeat of historic Kinnick Stadium at each of the nationally ranked Iowa Hawkeyes' seven home games.

Local students who are members of the band include:

Gavin Frascht of Kalona, trumpet, first year as a member of HMB, with an undecided major.

Sierra Mathews of Kalona, alto saxophone; third year as a member of HMB, history major.

Topher Wallerich of Washington, alto saxophone; first year as a member of HMB, informatics and music major.

Amber Burroughs of Libertyville, trumpet, second year as a member of HMB.

The HMB typically travels to one or two away games each season and the bowl game when Iowa qualifies for postseason competition. Therefore, Band 141 will also support the Hawkeyes when the football team visits to Ames for the annual Cy-Hawk Series game against intrastate rival Iowa State.

As the most visible ensemble in the University of Iowa's School of Music and the largest student organization on the campus, the HMB brings all Hawkeyes together to "Fight for Iowa." Comprised of students from nearly every major at Iowa - Burroughs is majoring in Marketing - this time-honored organization combines quality musicianship, Hawkeye spirit, pride and dedication to create its nationally renowned gridiron excitement.

In addition to its 273 musicians, performances by the HMB include drum major Amanda Thomas, Golden Girls Kylene Spanbauer and Ella McDaniel, and members of the award-winning Iowa Dance Team.

Eric Bush is associate director of bands and director of the Hawkeye Marching Band in the School of Music at the University of Iowa.

"We gain a significant advantage playing at home in Kinnick and its familiar surroundings with friends, fans, and the Hawkeye Marching Band cheering us on," says longtime UI football head coach Kirk Ferentz.

In addition to its many contributions to the game-day environment inside Kinnick, the HMB always performs pregame concerts in the UI Recreation Building located immediately northwest of Kinnick Stadium. These concerts are free and always begin 90 minutes prior to kickoff.