FALL NEWSLETTER 2020
ILLINOIS BANDS DURING COVID-19 Dear Friends, This August, we enthusiastically welcomed hundreds of Illinois Bands students back to campus, both face-to-face and online. Truly, this is a most unusual time! This newsletter comes to you a bit later than usual, and in a different format, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic we are all facing. We wanted to wait until the semester had begun to “flesh out” a bit more about how things look this fall so we could report the most up-to-date information possible. Additionally, you will note that this year’s Illinois Bands newsletter is coming to you electronically. Given current budget uncertainties, this was the most responsible thing to do. We hope to return to our normal format next fall.
IN THIS ISSUE 1 Greetings 2 Illinois Bands Faculty & Staff 3 Graduate Teaching Assistants 5 Illinois Bands Events 8 Alumni & Homecoming 10 Marching Illini 15 Illinois Bands Concert Schedule & Awards 16 Support Illinois Bands 17 Donors
Things look and feel different in Harding right now. I can look outside and see empty (yes, empty!) parking spots on Sixth Street, and the traffic in our building feels more like midJune than the first week of classes. Traffic patterns have been set, rehearsal spaces are sociallydistanced, only those who have passed a COVID-19 test are allowed in the building, and, most sadly, students are prevented from meeting and spending time together in the historic Harding Band Building. Yet the faculty worked hard all summer to present the best product we can to our students. We are extremely happy to be back, and are looking forward to developing unique ways to approach the challenges COVID-19 has presented. The Marching Illini is meeting as an online course this fall. And even though the Big Ten is now going ahead with football games, they decided not to allow any bands in the stadiums—a huge disappointment for us all. Look for more details about Athletic Bands from Barry Houser inside this newsletter. Unfortunately, only our “music major” bands are able to meet this fall. These are the ensembles that our students need in order to graduate. Other non-major ensembles have been put “on hold” in order to keep our students as safe as possible. The Illinois Wind Symphony, Wind Orchestra, and Hindsley Symphonic Band are all meeting in groups between five and twenty—no more than twenty people in Harding 141 to keep all of us as safe as possible. These smaller ensembles will use our larger rehearsal spaces, as well as outside spaces, for rehearsal this fall. Additionally, we are offering a “virtual concert band” for those students who do not wish to participate in our face-to-face small ensembles. Drs. Beth Peterson and Anthony Messina are heading up this large project. So, while many things are different, there will still be music emanating from Harding, and we will continue to do our very best to give our students the richest experience possible. As always, and especially during these times of economic uncertainty, we will truly rely on your support of our programs and students. Meanwhile, you can see through this newsletter that we continue to move forward for the sake of our students, alumni, and university. Here’s to better, safer times ahead! We look forward to seeing you again soon. Sincerely, STEVE PETERSON
Director of Bands