School spirit and silliness ensue at the Varsity Band Concert

“Photo gallery School spirit and silliness ensue at the Varsity Band Concert The annual performance showcases student talent and celebrates the end of the UW Marching Band season. ​ April 28, 2026 ​ Share this article This year marked the 50th annual Varsity Band Spring Concert and the event proved that some things keep getting better with age. Held on April 17 and 18 at the Kohl Center, the UW Marching Band took center stage to play classic UW–Madison hits alongside rock anthems and modern chart-toppers. The two-night run concluded the band’s season, which included hundreds of performances during the academic year — talk about eating a rock! More than 5,000 people packed the Kohl Center for the 50th annual Varsity Band Spring Concert. Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–Madison Corey Pompey, UW Marching Band Director and Associate Director of Bands in the Mead Witter School of Music, conducts the band — and the eager crowd — during the concert. Photo: Jeff Miller / UW–Madison The trombones take center stage for a Big Band Era song. The evening included a range of music, from instrumental classics to modern hits from Lady Gaga, Rihanna and “Wicked.” Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–Madison Donning a chicken suit, a band member leads the crowd in a Fifth Quarter classic, “The Chicken Dance.” Photo: Jeff Miller / UW–Madison Micheal Leckrone proves that you can never take the director out of the band. Leckrone, who led the UW Marching Band for 50 years before retiring in 2019, acknowledged the full Kohl Center crowd. Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–Madison Members of the UW Spirit Squad dance along to the beat. Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–Madison Audience participation might not be required but it’s regularly encouraged throughout the concert, and Badger fans Will Roberts (center) and Ayça Kutlu (right) were happy to join in. Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–Madison Several Fifth Quarter classics were on display throughout the night. Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–Madison Praise to the our alma mater: From left to right, former UW Marching Band cymbal players and UW–Madison alums Jessica Gieryn (1998), Sharon White (1999) and Connie Showalter (1999) join arms and sing “Vartisty” at the conclusion of the concert. Photo: Jeff Miller / UW–Madison That’s a wrap for members of the percussion section and the rest of the UW Marching Band. Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–Madison

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