BMB director Dr. Randal Dickerson named honorary alumnus

The award, presented at the band’s annual indoor concert at Pablo Center at the Confluence, is given to “non-alumni or non-degreed alumni who have demonstrated great love of and service to UW-Eau Claire or the greater community.”

Dickerson, who is retiring in December, has transformed the Blugold Marching Band during his 25-year tenure from a 60-member ensemble to a highly active marching band of over 470 members who perform and compete locally, nationally and around the globe.

“In the fall of 2000, I first stood in front of 60 students, having no idea of what was to come,” Dickerson said last month. “Once the band started to grow, campus got behind us wholeheartedly.”

Chancellor James Schmidt congratulated Dickerson and offered his heartfelt gratitude for the many years of “outstanding, dedicated, transformative service to the students of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and our whole community.”

“BMB alumni proudly carry on with their careers knowing that, for a few brief shining moments, they had the privilege of being in one of the most remarkable musical ensembles in the United States of America — if not the world,” Schmidt said.

Even through the pandemic, the BMB maintained over 400 members, and the program continues to attract students of all majors to UW-Eau Claire, students who say they want to keep the joy and camaraderie of music in their lives.

Since Dickerson took over the band, almost 4,000 students have taken part, completing eight international tours to 21 countries on five continents. The band soon will add four more countries to the list with a January 2025 international tour.

Guy Dee, the official announcing voice of the BMB for 21 years, says it’s hard to express the impact of Dickerson’s passion and leadership.

“We thank Randy for creating this little corner of the universe for so many remarkable people to come together and make beautiful things,” Dee says.

“The Blugold Marching Band goes so far beyond playing music or doing marching drills — it's a place where thousands of people have gathered to collaborate for no other reason than the enrichment of their own lives and the lives of others.”

In addition to his accomplishments with the marching band, Dickerson is a professor of music who has taught courses in instrumental music education and marching band procedures, and for decades has supervised student teachers in the music education program.