The UW Varsity Band is bringing back its spring concerts after a two-year pandemic hiatus, and next month’s shows will be led by a different director for the first time in nearly half a century.
The 46th UW-Madison Spring Concert, with performances at 7 p.m. April 22 and 23 at the Kohl Center, will be the first without UW Band executive Mike Leckrone at the helm. He started the annual tradition in 1975 as an end-of-year party for students. At the time, fewer than 500 people showed up for the show, which took place in the Humanities Building.
Concerts under Ringmaster Leckrone turned into massive multi-day blowouts with fireworks, glitter and Leckrone flying from cables. His sold-out shows in 2019, when he retired after a 50-year college career, drew nearly 30,000 people.
Corey Pompey, Leckrone’s successor, said during his first months on the job in 2019 that he had no plans to swing from ceilings, citing a fear of heights, but he promised performances with high production values.
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Then COVID-19 hit, canceling the 2020 and 2021 shows.
Highlights from this year’s production will include ‘Bohemian Wait for It’, ‘Country Classics’ and ‘The Music of Panic at the Disco’, along with longtime favorites like ‘Space Badgers’ and ‘If You Want to Be a Badger”.
Tickets are $25 for the general public and $15 for UW-Madison students. Special group rates are available.
Tickets can be purchased at the Wisconsin Athletic box office at 1440 Monroe St., online at BadgerBand.com or by phone at 608-262-1440 or 1-800-GO-BADGERS. For more information, visit badgerband.com.
Photos: Scenes from the 50-year career of UW band manager Mike Leckrone
Mike Leckron 1971
Mike Leckron 1971
STATUS LOG
Mike Leckron 1972
08/13/1972 – Robert Rennebohm and Mike Leckrone
STATUS LOG
Mike Leckron 1975
09/14/1975 – Professor Mike Leckrone
JD PATRICK
Mike Leckron 1981
10/10/1981 – University of Wisconsin Marching Band director Michael Leckrone leads the band onto the field for a victory celebration following Wisconsin’s victory over Ohio State in 1981. The UW Marching Band celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.
STATUS LOG
Mike Leckron 1976
10/01/1976 – UW band manager Mike Leckrone shouts encouragement to the band.
CAROLYN PFLASTERER
Mike Leckron 1976
09/15/1976 – Mike Leckrone
Mike Leckron 1978
07/10/1978 – Professor Mike Leckrone
Mike Leckron 1978
10/01/1976 – mike leckron
Mike Leckron 1985
04/23/1985 – LEADER OF THE GROUP – Michael Leckrone, director of the famed University of Wisconsin Marching Band, will be honored with the group Thursday (April 23) by the Wisconsin State Senate. The group celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. — University News Service photo by Norman Lenberg
Norman Lenberg
Mike Leckron 1985
04/22/1985 – BADGER CHEERLEADER — University of Wisconsin Marching Band director Michael Leckrone often leads the cheers at UW-Madison athletic events. Leckrone and the group will be honored for their contributions to the state when the Wisconsin State Senate presents them with a citation during a ceremony on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, April 23. — University News Service photo by Norman Lenberg
Norman Lenberg
Mike Leckron 1991
08/29/1991 – Mike Leckrone does the Wisconsin Strut in front of Wisconsin’s new freshman group at Camp Randall.
CAP TIMES
Mike Leckron 1994
(Caption posted 9/9/94) Mike Leckrone works with the band members on their footwork. Rehearsals for Saturday’s show are a lot of work.
David Sandell
Mike Leckron 1994
Group manager Mike Leckrone doesn’t miss an out of place foot among hundreds during the grueling workouts leading up to the trip to Ohio State. Leckrone says a perfect performance is a mathematical impossibility, but the band came close.
MEG THENO
Mike Leckron 1994
Leckrone runs through Saturday’s halftime show until it’s perfected. This year’s show includes a look back at the Rose Bowl victory. Rehearsals for the UW Marching Band are never easy. They regularly include a variety of exercises and usually prove to be exhausting.
David Sandell
Mike Leckron 1997
Director Mike Leckrone leads the crowd in “Varsity” during the fifth quarter performance.
David Sandel
Mike Leckron 1997
UW Marching Band manager Michael Leckrone is in a typically hectic mood on Sunday as he dances with Green Bay’s Sally Killoran at a Badger fan party in Clearwater Beach, Fla., during a event leading up to Thursday’s Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida.
Craig Schreiner
Mike Leckron 1998
Mike Leckrone leads the group from a tower platform in the practice area at Observatory Drive and Walnut Street.
MIKE DEVRIES
Mike Leckron 1998
University of Wisconsin band manager Mike Leckrone leads the band during their Tuesday performance at Disneyland in December 1998.
STEVE APPS
Mike Leckron 1999
David Sandell
Mike Leckron 2003
A bobble head doll by Mike Leckrone. Leckrone leads the UW Marching Band.
JEAN MANIACI
Mike Leckron 2003
Mike Leckrone leads the UW group.
JEAN MANIACI
Mike Leckron 2006
UW-Madison Group Director Mike Leckrone rides a likeness outside his office on University Avenue and North Park Street.
JOSEPH W. JACKSON III
Mike Leckron 2006
Mike Leckrone leads his group for its 38th season. The University of Wisconsin-Madison Band practiced and auditioned freshmen on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
JEAN MANIACI
Mike Leckron 2007
Future members of the UW Marching Band are training this week at the McClain Center near Camp Randall under the watchful eye of manager Mike Leckrone.
David Sandell
Mike Leckron 2007
Director Mike Leckrone leads the UW Marching Band at Monday’s cheer rally in Tampa.
MICHELLE STOCKER
Mike Leckron 2009
Wisconsin Group Director Mike Leckrone spoke at a dismissal ceremony for about 3,200 members of the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team at the Alliant Energy Center on Tuesday. (Photo © Andy Manis)
ANDY MANIS
Mike Leckron 2009
UW Marching Band Director Mike Leckrone works in the basement office of his Middleton home. “I rarely think about (retiring) until someone asks me about it,” he said.
CRAIG SCHREINER
Mike Leckron 2010
University of Wisconsin Chancellor Carolyn “Biddy” Martin does the “Bucky” dance with band manager Michael Leckrone during a cheer rally for the football team at the Rose Bowl in Santa Monica, on Thursday, December 30, 2010 as the Badgers prepare to face TCU in the Rose Bowl on January 1. JOURNAL SENTINEL PHOTO BY RICK WOOD/[email protected]
Rick Wood, SENTINEL DIARY
Mike Leckron 2013
UW Band Manager Mike Leckrone with the UW Marching Band at Badger Bash held at Union South on Saturday September 21, 2013.
Mike DeVries
Mike Leckron 2013
University of Wisconsin Marching Band director Michael Leckrone leads the band as they perform for fans during a Capital One Bowl game cheer rally at the Pointe Orlando outdoor mall in Orlando , in Florida, on Tuesday, December 31, 2013.
MP KING – State Journal
Mike Leckron 2015
UW Marching Band manager Mike Leckrone watches the action on the field from atop a ladder late in the third quarter of the Badgers’ 24-7 victory over Purdue at Camp Randall Stadium on October 17, 2015 .
Jason McMahon – State Newspaper
Mike Leckron 2017
University of Wisconsin Marching Band Director Michael Leckrone before the start of a game between the Wisconsin Badgers and Florida Atlantic University at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday, September 9, 2017.
MP KING, STATE JOURNAL
Mike Leckron 2017
Greeted by University of Wisconsin Band Director Michael Leckrone, right, musician Steve Miller of the Steve Miller Band prepares to lead the fifth quarter performance after a game between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Maryland Terrapins at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, Saturday, October 21, 2017.
PM ROI
Mike Leckron 2018
Mike Leckrone leads the group in the Nov. 3 game against Rutgers. Students must re-audition each August. “It keeps them honest,” he said.
PHOTOS BY JOHN HART, STATE NEWSPAPER
Morning rehearsal, 2018
UW band manager Mike Leckrone watches band members practice during a morning rehearsal session on campus.
JOHN HART, STATE NEWSPAPER
Cheering on fans, 2018
UW group manager Mike Leckrone cheers on fans after a home soccer game at Camp Randall Stadium on November 3.
JOHN HART STATE JOURNAL
Leckrone in the field, 2018
Mike Leckrone leads the group in the Nov. 3 game against Rutgers. Students must re-audition each August. “It keeps them honest,” he said.
PHOTOS BY JOHN HART, STATE NEWSPAPER
