Two more enter CSC Music Hall of Fame

Nygaard is a native of Hot Springs, S.D, whose bands have won numerous honors in both Nebraska and California, where he has lived the past 40 years. He was inducted into the National High School Band Director’s Hall of Fame in 1992 and received Chadron State’s Distinguished Service Award in 1994.

After graduating from Chadron State in 1955, Nygaard taught music at Minatare four years and at Gordon for six. While at Gordon, his band represented Nebraska at the world premiere of the motion picture “The Music Man” in Mason City, Iowa. He also collaborated with Caroline Sandoz Pifer on the “Pageant of the Plains,” a diamond jubilee celebration in Gordon in 1960.

A few years later, his master’s degree thesis at Chadron State was an original musical comedy, “Buckskin Bride,” that he wrote, directed and produced in Chadron. It was selected as an official production of the 1967 Nebraska Centennial Celebration, and was performed by groups in several other communities.

Nygaard moved to John F. Kennedy High School in Barstow, Calif., in 1966. During his 11 years there, he was the first recipient of the school’s outstanding service award that was later named in his honor. He also wrote the school’s “fight song” and “alma mater” and designed the school’s first band uniforms.

In 1977, Nygaard moved to Apple Valley, Calif., where his Sun Devil Band won more than 100 sweepstakes awards in field and street competition. His band performed at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984, the World Series in 1988 and frequently at both Disneyland and the internationally-televised Hollywood Christmas Parade. His band also won the Golden State Marching Festival grand championship in Chico, Calif., in 1989.

Nygaard met his wife, the former Marion Haslow of Gordon, while both were attending Chadron State. They have four grown children.

Rathbun is originally from Ord. He graduated from Chadron State in December 1974. He has taught music and directed bands in Kansas and Nebraska high schools for 27 years.

Prior to moving to Millard North last fall, he spent seven years at Columbus High School, where his marching band, concert band, symphonic band and jazz band received superior ratings in every competition.

In particular, Rathbun’s marching bands have excelled in field competition and his jazz bands frequently have been recognized at festivals throughout eastern Nebraska and at the University of Northern Colorado.

In 2001, his Columbus marching band won the first place trophy at the “Magic Music Days” parade at Disneyland and also received the “Spirit of Anaheim” Award that is presented to the band that represents its community and school at the highest possible level.

Rathbun is in his third year as a member of the executive board for the Nebraska Bandmasters Association. He and his wife Laurie have been married 25 years. She teaches middle school vocal music at the King Science and Technology Magnate School in the Omaha Public School System.