Help Carry On Keith Nygaard’s Legacy in 2018

DENVER, CO – The Keith Nygaard Memorial Scholarship was established in the fall of 2016 to honor the legacy of late Keith Nygaard, “an incredible musician who brought so much joy to this world by inspiring hundreds of young marching musicians to follow their dreams.

Keith was from Colorado Springs, Colorado, a member of the Doherty High School marching band where he led young new musicians in the art of marching music. He continued his passion as a performer for the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble, a world class performing arts ensemble, in 2012 and aged-out in 2015. Keith was a student at the Colorado School of Mines where he majored in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science.

His legacy was carried on by two percussion ensemble members Malia Oderik and Emily Soder through the funds raised last season.

Malia Oderik marched with the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble Front Ensemble and is a Percussion Performance major at Colorado State University. Malia has loved music since she was four years old, where she began playing piano, and began her career as a percussionist at eleven. Malia started her time with the Rocky Mountain Percussion Association and Winter Guard International as a freshmen in high school and has continued ever since.

“I love being a part of the percussion ensemble because we have the chance to take everything we learn and do an immense amount with it,” said Malia. “I know that being a part of indoor percussion, from the beginning of my career, has vastly changed my life for the better and I hope to help bring the same effect to the lives of others. Blue Knights is helping shape my ability to do that every day, as I not only learn constantly while I’m there, but I also learn how to better teach while I’m there with the incredible staff we have.”

Emily Soder in marched in the tenor section with the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble last year. Emily has loved music since she was little, and has performed as part of jazz, concert, and blue grass ensembles. Emily knows a wide variety of instruments, from the clarinet to the mandolin, and started playing quads in eighth grade at the Centaraus High School drum line, and hasn’t stopped since.

“Being a Blue Knight to me means a constant pursuit of greatness, and encouraging those around you so they can do the same,” said Emily. “It means having a family to both support and push you, then doing the same for them.”

Donations to the Keith Nygaard Memorial Scholarship are 100% tax-deductible and will benefit future members of the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble. Please support Keith’s legacy with a donation to the Scholarship Fund by clicking the button below.

Click to donate!


 

Share This Post

BKX25 staff annc guard wp

Jessica Glasgow & Brandy DuBose Join Staff

The Blue Knights is excited to announce Jessica Glasgow as Visual Coordinator & Guard Designer and thrilled to welcome back Brandy DuBose in the role ...
Read More →
BKPE staff annc wp

BKPE Welcomes Shane Gwaltney & Tanner Leonardo

The Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble is thrilled to announce the addition of Shane Gwaltney and Tanner Leonardo to the 2025 Design Team! Shane Gwaltney joins ...
Read More →
BKPE staff annc wp

Sean McElroy Returns to BKPE

Sean McElroy returns to the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble as Visual Designer for the 2025 season. Sean McElroy grew up in southwest Denver, Colorado in ...
Read More →
BKX25 PERC staff annc wp

Welcome 2025 BKDBC Percussion Staff

                                   The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps is ...
Read More →
BKX25 staff annc wp

Felix Cruz III and Ronnie Pruitt Join 2025 BK Staff

The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps is excited to announce two additions to the 2025 staff. “We are very excited to bring on board ...
Read More →
Scholarship Winners

BKDBC 2024 Scholarship Winners

Ascend Performing Arts is proud to announce 2024’s Scholarship Recipients Ascend Performing Arts is committed to making life-changing performing arts experiences available to all. While ...
Read More →
Scroll to Top

Subscribe

* indicates required
/( mm / dd )
Country Code
Ascend Performing Arts - By providing your phone number, you agree to receive promotional and marketing messages, notifications, and customer service communications from Ascend Performing Arts. Message and data rates may apply. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Message frequency varies. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.See terms.
Events & Happenings
Fundraisers
Alumni
Newsletter
Volunteering

Intuit Mailchimp

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.