FALL NEWSLETTER 2021
Dear Alumni and Friends, As I write this letter, we are deep in preparations for a fall that we hope will be much closer to normal than last year. We are planning for all of our ensembles to be back full-force (and vaccinated!), and simply can’t wait to get going. All of our special events are back on track including Band Day, Illinois Marching Band Championships, the Illinois Band Conductors Symposium, SuperState Concert Band Festival. We will welcome hundreds of students—half of which will be new, to the hallowed halls of the historic Harding Band Building.
IN THIS ISSUE 1 Greetings 2 Illinois Bands Faculty & Staff 3 Graduate Teaching Assistants 4 Illinois Bands Encore 5 Illinois Bands Events 6 Alumni & Homecoming 7 Marching Illini 8 Marching Illini & Awards 9 Awards 10 Awards & Concert Schedule 11 Your Gift Matters
I am extremely proud of the work that occurred last year to accommodate the many students who still wanted to make live music. In the fall, we met in small ensembles, both inside and outside the building, and in other spaces across campus. Following all safety protocols, we were able to record final performances of the works we prepared and share them with parents and friends. In the spring, we rehearsed similar ensembles and were able to present a highly successful “Music on the Steps” concert outside of the Krannert Center. Both the students and the audience were very excited to be involved with live music again. Read more about the concert inside. It was a challenging year, and one that we not only “survived” but were able to continue with our traditions of excellent music-making. This would not have been possible without the hard work and flexibility of all of our faculty, graduate students, and staff. I am incredibly grateful to them all. We have a full slate of concert and athletic band appearances set for the year, including our Annual Homecoming Concert on Friday, October 8. Additionally, I’m happy to announce that the Illinois Wind Symphony has been asked to give a concert for the prestigious American Bandmasters Association on Thursday, March 3, at Butler University. The concert will feature past presidents and Illinois Band Directors James F. Keene and Gary Smith as guest conductors, among with others. We heartily encourage you to return to campus for a game or concert this year and reconnect with your Illinois Bands program. We are always grateful for the financial support of you, our alumni. We could not thrive without it. Please read through this newsletter for much more information about your Illinois Bands.
12 Donors List Sincerely, STEVE PETERSON
Director of Bands