Strike up the band

He is probably far better known nationally among university marching band leaders than he is in his own city.

You might have already seen Barry Bernhardt's work on national television this week. Bernhardt has had his hands on the marching band performances of eight bowl games this year, including the Champs Sports Bowl and the Gator Bowl, which he will direct. The others he helped choreograph by using computer software where he can orchestrate movements of up to 2,000 performers.

The director of university bands at Southeast Missouri State University also had a hand in getting the Golden Eagles Marching Band to play at the world renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland last year. They were only the second U.S. university band to be invited. As if once wasn't enough, the Golden Eagles have been invited back next summer.

Congratulations to Bernhardt and the university for continued musical success around the nation and abroad.