In Memorium

In Memoriam … “A Tradition of Excellence”

Georgene Diers (1926 – 2009)

On Wednesday, March 18, 2009 we lost one of Nebraska’s most significant band directors, music educators, and pioneers of women in the field of band music, Georgene Diers.

Mrs. Diers joined the Scottsbluff Public Schools Instrumental Music Faculty in 1948. She remained in Scottsbluff her entire teaching career retiring in 1991 after 43 years and 6 decades in music education.

Throughout her career at Scottsbluff, Mrs. Diers won many awards with her junior high bands, and also served as the assistant director of the senior high bands.

Some career highlights include:

1961 Scottsbluff High Band performed in President John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Parade

1964 Scottsbluff High Band performed at the New York World’s Fair

1968 Scottsbluff High Band performed at the Hemisfare in San Antonio, Texas

1970 Scottsbluff Junior High Band selected to perform for the N.S.B.A. Convention

1972 Scottsbluff Junior High Band selected to perform for the N.S.B.A. Convention

1973 Scottsbluff High Band performed at the Portland Rose Festival

1976 Scottsbluff Junior High Band selected to perform for the N.S.B.A. Convention

1976 Bi-Centennial European Concert Tour

1978 Scottsbluff Junior High Band selected to perform for the N.S.B.A. Convention

1979 European Concert Tour

1980 Georgene Diers received the Donald Lentz Outstanding Bandmaster Award from the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association

1982 European Concert Tour

1983 Scottsbluff Junior High Band selected to perform for the N.S.B.A. Convention

1985 European Concert Tour

1985 Georgene Diers was inducted into the Nebraska Music Educators Hall of Fame

1987 Scottsbluff Junior High Band selected to perform for the N.S.B.A. Convention

1988 Scottsbluff Junior High Band received the John Philip Sousa foundation coveted “Sudler Silver Cup Award”

1989 Georgene Diers was awarded the first “Bandworld Legion of Honor Award”