Marching Illini

A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE MARCHING ILLINI, BARRY L. HOUSER

Greetings from the iconic and historic Harding Band Building!

What a year it has been. We have traveled and experienced many transitions, departures, celebrations, arrivals, and many emotions along the way. We celebrate the retirement of Steve and Beth Peterson as they start a new chapter in Colorado. During their time at Illinois, they elevated the quality of our ensembles, the music education experience, and the culture of the University of Illinois Bands. They were and will continue to be impactful mentors, educators, conductors, and simply amazing people who cared deeply about each person they came into contact with. We will miss them dearly but wish them well in Colorado—and extend an open invitation to return for any of our events or just to visit anytime.

We welcome three outstanding new faculty to the Harding Band Building this fall. After a very quick search, we hit a true grand slam with the hire of Kim Fleming, assistant director of bands and Hannah Rudy, assistant director of athletic bands. They are impacting our program positively in their short time at Illinois already. In addition, we conducted a national search for the seventh director of bands at the University of Illinois. We are elated to welcome Kevin Geraldi and his wonderful wife Gina and daughter Sarah. Kevin brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and vision for the future of Illinois Bands. Personally, I have enjoyed and look forward to working with our new faculty this year.

Before I share more about Band 154 and the 2022 season, I want to share my sincere gratitude to our staff who assisted in getting us through some major transitions and changes this summer and fall. Joy McClaugherty continues to juggle more items each day and does it with a smile on her face. Aaron Kavelman has contributed significantly with regard to percussion on both the concert and marching band areas. A B1G thank you to our fantastic grad students: Michelle Bell, Isaac Brinberg, and Jeremy Sison for their tireless work in assisting me this past spring and summer. Together, we were able to keep the ship sailing forward!

Now we shift to #band154 and the 2022 edition of the Marching Illini. We are so grateful that we have been able to get the band together for the kick off the 154th season of the Nation’s Premier College Marching Band, the Marching Illini. The musicality, The System, energy, and culture of excellence that is created by the Marching Illini continues to enhance the University of Illinois and the experience of our fans, friends, alumni, and students.

As we start this season with True Illini Spirit and an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE, I want to thank you for contributing to our March Forth campaign. The 2022 campaign smashed all previous fundraising records for this event! Your generous donations are being used daily and will benefit the students in the Marching Illini for years to come.

We have a busy year ahead—our complete schedule can be found at https://marchingillini.com, and in this newsletter. Some highlights include seven home games in Memorial Stadium, a trip to Pontiac, Illinois over the Labor Day weekend, performing an exhibition performance for the Chicagoland Marching Band Festival, a return to Soldier Field for a Bears halftime show, and a road trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan for the ILLINOIS vs Michigan game.

We continue to march for dear ole’ Illini and hope you will join us for any of these events this season. Our ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE continues to spill over with a remarkable season and year upon us. Take care, stay well, and GO ILLINI! With True Illini Spirit!

Barry L. Houser Director of Marching Illini Associate Director of Bands