On October 3, 1970 a sophomore marching french horn player in the University of Wisconsin Band made an incorrect move in the middle of a half-time show and unknowingly stepped firmly into Wisconsin Band history. His name is Karl Strieby, and the error he made has become an important part of UW Band-lore.
The show that was being performed that afternoon was called "Streets in Song,"
and one early segment of the production featured an arrangement of the Basin
Street Blues with the Band in the formation of a giant trombone. The "slide"
of the trombone had been charted to march out 16 steps toward the end zone
and back 16 steps. This was to be done a couple of times to simulate the
playing motion of that instrument. Our man of the hour was positioned in the
slide at the mouthpiece end, a position that placed him in full view of the
70,000 fans in attendance that day. Even though he was but a sophomore,
Karl Strieby had distinguished himself as an outstanding musician with an
energetic, precise marching style. He was a hard-working and conscientious
bandsman who learned quickly and practiced diligently. As the band came to
the moment in Basin Street Blues when the trombone slide was to start its
movement, Karl stepped off and executed his movement perfectly... except...
at one point when he and the rest of the slide were to march out 16 steps,
Karl, for some reason, went out 8 steps. . . made a "textbook" turn to the
rear. . . marched back 8 steps to his starting position . . . and marked time
enthusiastically until the remainder of the "slide" joined him. He didn't
hesitate... he didn't appear flustered... he didn't lose any composure... he
just continued as if the "error" was what he had meant to do all the time.
From that day on any error that is made with style and authority is referred
to in the Wisconsin Band as a "Strieby."
In 1974 when Karl had returned to the Band as a graduate student and a field assistant, the flugelhorn section of the Band decided it would be appropriate to honor the best error of the year with a traveling trophy. They surreptitiously acquired one of Karl's best pipes and fashioned an award which they presented to Tom Wiskowski at that year's Band banquet. From that time to the present, an elaborate system of nominating and voting on the Karl Strieby Memorial Award has been established to honor the man and the concept that he embodied. . . "If you're going to make a mistake... make it with class." One "distinguished Strieby Award Recipient" (from 1975) is none other than the Band's current Announcer (and past Drum Major), Mr. John Biester.
If anyone knows the Strieby Award Winners from the missing years please email the webmaster.
STRIEBY AWARD WINNERS
| Name | Year | Instrument |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Wiskowski | 1974 | Percussion |
| John Biester | 1975 | Drum Major |
| Ken Johnson | 1976 | Trombone |
| Grant Manhart | 1977 | Trumpet |
| Jean Martin | 1978 | Trumpet |
| Tom Timmerman | 1979 | Trombone |
| Steve Rakowski | 1980 | Baritone |
| Mary Bade | 1981 | Marching French Horn |
| Andy Sadndstrom | 1981 | Marching French Horn |
| Ed Pamperin | 1982 | Trombone |
| Carl Wickman | 1983 | Trumpet |
| Erin Muths | 1984 | Alto Saxophone |
| Paul Wagner | 1985 | Flugelhorn |
| Rick Truttup | 1985 | Flugelhorn |
| 1986 | ||
| 1987 | ||
| 1988 | ||
| 1989 | ||
| Rick McKinley | 1990 | Tuba |
| Cindy Seth | 1991 | Trumpet |
| 1992 | ||
| 1993 | ||
| Tom Triller | 1994 | Flugelhorn |
| Malanie Brooks | 1995 | Trombone |
| Keith Fourrier | 1996 | Saxophone |
| Ashley Madison | 1996 | Saxophone |
| 1997 | ||
| Dan Lerberg | 1998 | Trombone |
| Rob Scholl | 1999 | Tuba |
| Chris Gile | 2000 | Trombone |
| Paul Lisi | 2001 | Trumpet |
| Dylan Huntimer | 2002 | Trombone |
| Joe Scott | 2003 | Snare Drum |
| Eric VanderZanden | 2004 | Trumpet |
| Reech Carranza | 2005 | Trombone |
| David Bauer | 2006 | Trumpet |