Alumni & Homecoming

The Illinois Wind Symphony, under the direction of Stephen Peterson, was invited to present a concert on March 3, 2022, at the National Convention of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association, held on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis.

The event, which was shared with the Indiana University Wind Ensemble, was highly lauded by all who attended. The American Bandmasters Association is the most prestigious band organization in the world. Membership is by invitation only. Illinois directors A. A. Harding, Mark Hindsley, Harry Begian, Gary Smith, and Linda Moorhouse are all former presidents of the ABA.

Tradition dictates that each performing band use guest conductors for most of the program. Along with Stephen Peterson, conductors included Barry Houser, associate director of bands at UIUC; Paula Holcomb, director of bands at SUNY Fredonia; Cynthia Johnston Turner, dean, faculty of music, Wilfrid Laurier University; James F. Keene, former director of bands at UIUC; Beth Peterson, associate director of bands at UIUC; and Gary Smith, former associate director of bands at UIUC.

This performance enhanced Illinois Bands unsurpassed legacy of leadership through national appearances. The most recent was a performance of the Illinois Wind Symphony at the College Band Directors National Association Convention in Tempe, Arizona in 2019.

Dear Alumni Band Members:

Greetings to our Band Alumni, families, friends, University of Illinois faculty, staff, and students! I hope this finds you well.

We are thrilled to welcome our new director of bands Kevin Geraldi and new assistant band directors Kim Fleming and Hannah Rudy. The Band Alumni are looking forward to working with Barry Houser and this amazing team in 2022 and beyond. We are also looking forward to introducing them at Homecoming.

Homecoming 2021 was a terrific event highlighted by our alumni tailgate hosted in Grange Grove. We welcomed more than 200 alumni and their families and friends to this event and had nearly 200 alumni who joined us on the field and for various Homecoming festivities over the weekend. Thank you to everyone who came out and a big thank you to all of our Alumni Band Board volunteers and for the Marching Illini parents who helped out as well.

The Band Alumni joined the Department of Music and Dr. Jeffrey Sposato, director of the School of Music, in honoring Steve and Beth Peterson as they retired in May 2022. We were treated to a beautiful concert and then hosted a reception with the Band department afterwards. Thanks to all the alumni who attended this event. We will miss you, Steve and Beth!

Recently, the Band Alumni participated in the “First Annual” Alumni Band Camp event featuring our participation in the Pride of Illinois Ceremony. This ceremony included a very heartfelt welcome by Barry Houser and a musical serenade of the incoming band members by their fellow Marching Illini. Although the weather was a disappointment, the alumni who were able to attend enjoyed the evening and agreed that this should be an annual event. Band Camp was then topped off with an ice cream treat provided by the very generous donations of several of our Band Alumni. It was the perfect way to enjoy the final day of pre-season prep and the Marching Illini members were very thankful!

We are looking forward to a fun and busy Homecoming 2022 weekend as the University combines the Homecoming celebration with Foundation Weekend. The Illinois Foundation is celebrating the successful completion of their huge fundraising campaign and the Marching Illini will be a big part of the festivities planned. Homecoming 2022 includes many of the traditional activities, but also includes participation in the Friday night celebration outside Memorial Stadium featuring the Marching Illini, fireworks, a street fair and more!

For more information on Homecoming 2022, please visit: https://uibandsalumni.illiniclub.org/article.html?aid=150 Thank you to our Band Alumni Board volunteers for all of the work, ideas, and support that you provide to our Illinois Band program and the Band Alumni. As always, a huge thank you to Barry Houser, Joy McClaugherty, and the staff and faculty of the Band Department and School of Music. Your hard work and dedication to this University and its students are unmatched.

If you would like to volunteer to serve on the Band Alumni Board or work with us on any of our future events, please email uibandsalumni@gmail. com. It takes many hands and we appreciate your involvement in whatever way you are able. GO ILLINI!

Maureen Durack President, University of Illinois Band Alumni Board