On Sep. 1 at the ETSU vs. Mars Hill football game in the William B. Greene Jr. Stadium, a special award honoring the late Rev. Vincent M. Dial was given to McClane Bernshausen, a front ensemble member in the Marching Bucs.
Dial was the chaplain for the ETSU football team and a senior pastor at Bethel Christian Church. He fought a brave battle with pancreatic cancer.
According to the ETSU Percussion Instagram, Dial was “a fierce supporter of the Marching Bucs and music education for all students in East Tennessee.”
Bernshausen started with dancing when he was younger, but he knew he would have a passion for music.
“I took dance classes at a very young age;my mom was a dance teacher,” Bernshausen said. “So I have always been around music my whole life, then started piano lessons in elementary school, then it led to middle and high school band programs.”
Bernshausen progressed from piano to other instruments when he saw some of the ETSU percussionists practicing when he was younger.
“I came here one day and saw the percussion practice rooms, and thinking that it was so much cooler than the piano stuff I was doing, I wanted to study percussion and newer music,” said Bernshausen. “There is nothing wrong with classical music; I just want to study the things that are happening right now.”
Bernshausen stated that although he did not know Dial before he received his scholarship, he was very honored to receive it.
“I didn’t know Mr. Dial going into this, but I did some research and asked around, and found out that he was a very influential musician and educator in the community,” Bernshausen said. “That made me feel even more honored.”
Bernshausen expressed gratitude towards his department about receiving the scholarship.
“After researching Dial and his involvement and impact in the area, I almost don’t feel worthy associating his name with me, but I am very honored to be chosen by the percussion department, staff and Dr. Moore.”
