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.
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
BANDS OFFICE
phone
217-333-3025
email bands@illinois.edu
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ILLINOIS BANDS FACULTY & STAFF
DR. STEPHEN G. PETERSON
director of bands
As director of bands, Steve conducts the Wind Symphony, leads the graduate wind conducting program, teaches courses in wind literature and conducting, and guides all aspects of the Bands program at the University of Illinois.
DR. LINDA MOORHOUSE
associate director, school of music
senior associate director of bands
In addition to her leadership role in the School of Music, Linda also serves as a valued member of the Bands faculty.
DR. ELIZABETH B. PETERSON
associate director of bands
Beth conducts the University of Illinois Wind Orchestra. She teaches courses in instrumental conducting and serves as the student teaching placement coordinator for the School of Music.
PROFESSOR BARRY L. HOUSER
associate director of bands director of the marching illini
Barry directs all aspects of the Athletic Bands program. In addition, he coordinates and co-conducts the Campus and University Bands and teaches courses in instrumental conducting and marching band techniques.
DR. ANTHONY M. MESSINA
assistant director of athletic bands
Anthony’s primary responsibility is to assist with all aspects of the Athletic Bands program. In addition, he conducts the Hindsley Symphonic Band, manages social media, and teaches courses in instrumental conducting.
AARON KAVELMAN
percussion instructor properties manager
Aaron serves as instructor of the Marching Illini Drum Line, assists with “all things percussion” for all bands, and manages the Properties room, inventory, and supervises the Properties staff.
JOY MCCLAUGHERTY
business admin associate
Joy handles logistics for Illinois Bands events and oversees concert program and website content development. She also manages the Bands office and coordinates Bands student staffing.
GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTS
ALLISON BETSOLD
Boston, Massachusetts
dma conducting
In 2016, Allison joined Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts as the assistant director of bands. Allison was the director of the NU Concert Band and the 190-member NU Pep Band which performs at all women’s volleyball, women’s and men’s ice hockey, and women’s and men’s basketball games on campus. Allison earned a master of music in wind conducting from the University of Kansas where she studied with Dr. Paul Popiel. During her time at KU, she assisted with the KU Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, University Band, Marching Jayhawks, and directed the KU Volleyball Band. In 2012, Allison graduated with a BM in music education and trumpet performance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
ISAAC BRINBERG
Blacksburg, Virginia
dma conducting
Isaac received his master’s of music in wind conducting at the University of MissouriKansas City Conservatory. While at the UMKC Conservatory, Isaac served as a graduate teaching assistant for the bands at the conservatory and appeared as a guest conductor with the Conservatory Wind Symphony and Conservatory Wind Ensemble. He also was the conductor for the UMKC Saxophone Ensemble. Isaac earned his bachelor’s of music education degree with a minor in wind conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Isaac then served as assistant band director at Discovery Middle School in Granger, Indiana, where he team-taught four concert bands, two extra-curricular jazz bands, and was on the marching band staff with Penn High School.
PAUL CARTER
Lansdale, Pennsylvania
mm conducting
Paul Carter is a graduate of the Ithaca College School of Music with a bachelor’s degree in music education and a concentration in bass trombone. For the past three years, Paul was the middle school band director at Ray Middle School in Baldwinsville, New York, having moved
there after graduating from Ithaca College. A native of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, Paul attended North Penn High School and performed with many ensembles including the wind ensemble, marching band, symphonic band, orchestra, jazz band, chamber singers, ambassadors jazz choir, concert choir, and chorus.
BECCA FREDERICK
Davenport, Iowa
mm horn performance and literature
mi teaching assistant
Becca is in her first year as a graduate teaching assistant for the University of Illinois Athletic Bands. Prior to moving to the Champaign–Urbana area, Becca attended the University of Iowa and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in horn performance. While in Iowa City, Becca spent her time teaching private lessons, directing the Iowa City New Horizon’s Band, the Linn St. Band, and working as the head librarian for the concert and athletic bands.
REID LASLEY
Denver, Colorado
mm bass trombone performance
mi teaching assistant
Reid Lasley, from Greenwood Village, Colorado, is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder with degrees in music performance and molecular biology. He completed his master’s degree in bass trombone performance and literature in 2018 at the University of Illinois and is currently in the final year of his DMA. Currently, Reid is the bass trombonist for the Champaign–Urbana Symphony Orchestra and Festival Mozaic in San Luis Obispo, California. In his free time, Reid enjoys hunting and fishing, playing golf and is a diehard Denver Broncos and NASCAR fan. I-L-L!
SAM LITT
Highland Park, Illinois
mme + l
mi teaching assistant
Sam received his bachelor’s of arts in music technology from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. While at the University of Illinois, Sam has enjoyed playing trumpet in many different ensembles including the Illinois Wind Symphony, Wind