Marching band signs first recruit as it builds toward return in fall of 2020

CANTON, Mo. — The Pride of Culver-Stockton College Marching Band secured its first recruit on Friday as it starts to build toward its debut in the fall of 2020.

Braeden Wenneker of LaBelle, Mo., a student at Highland High School in Ewing, Mo., signed a letter of intent to be a part of the Culver-Stockton athletic bands next year. Joining him for his signing on Friday were his mother, Tammy, and marching band director Ryan Christian, who gave Wenneker a pair of C-SC sunglasses that he will give to all of his marching band recruits. Wenneker picked up a trombone for the first time in the sixth grade and was taught by Christian, who previously was the band director at Highland.

Music has been part of the curriculum at Culver-Stockton since it was founded in 1853, but the first band was not organized until the fall of 1924 under the direction of Lorenzo G. Fachinato. The band performed at many events for the next 30-plus years. The 1963 yearbook mentions a band participating in the homecoming parade and at football games, but no mention is made of a marching band after that year.

Chris Gill, dean of student life, has said the goal is to have at least 40 students recruited to be part of the band when it performs for the first time in what is to thought to be at least 50 years. Non-music majors are invited to try out as well.

The marching band needs students with marching or playing experience with the clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, mellophone, tuba or percussion. Interested students should go online to culver.edu/marching for more information.

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