FAQ
For over 150 years, the Nation’s Premier College Marching Band, the Marching Illini has captivated audiences across the nation with spectacular performances and innovative concepts.
THE BEST BAND
IN THE LAND
The unique style of the Marching Illini represents a combination of time-honored traditions and exciting innovations. Whether performing before the home crowd or away, the Marching Illini has held a level of national distinction and a reputation for excellence.
Academics
For 156 years, the Nation’s Premier College Marching Band, the Marching Illini has captivated audiences across the nation with spectacular performances and innovative concepts. The unique style of the Marching Illini represents a combination of time-honored traditions and exciting innovations. Whether performing before the home crowd in historic Memorial Stadium or on the road, the Marching Illini has held a level of national distinction and a reputation of excellence – The Best Band In The Land.
Absolutely! The Marching Illini is comprised of the University of Illinois’ best and brightest students. The Marching Illini has one of the highest cumulative GPA’s on campus with students from every academic discipline and major. 80% of our population are academic majors outside of music while 20% are music majors in the School of Music!
Membership in the Marching Illini is open to all students on the Illinois campus who have had high school or collegiate marching band experience. You do not have to be a music major to participate. Members of the Marching Illini represent all academic disciplines on campus, with Engineering representing a large contingent of the membership. We even have graduate students that participate in the world famous Marching Illini!
Current students in the Marching Illini come from across the United States!
Although marching experience is preferred, we have had a number of students with no marching band experience become a member of the Marching Illini.
YES! There are two “tracks” to be a part of the Marching Illini if you are a student at Parkland College. If you are a Parkland Pathways student, you are considered an Illinois student and can enroll in up to 5 credits each semester at UIUC. You may audition and then register for MUSC 487, Marching Illini. For more information about the Parkland Pathways program, click HERE
If you are a Parkland College student, you may audition as long as you register for the class as a non-degree seeking student. To learn more about registering as a non-degree seeking student, click HERE
If you have not completed a prospective student form, take 20 seconds to do so now.
If you are ready to audition, complete the AUDITION REGISTRATION FORM
All audition materials and information can be found under the JOIN sub menu.
If you are a first year member and you are playing in one of the spring concert bands, you do not need to re-audition in the spring. If you are a second year or more member, you do not need to complete a spring audition.
All first round auditions for ALL sections are done through video auditions. All information of how to submit your video is listed under JOIN
The final auditions for drumline, guard and Illinettes take place in the Harding Band Building located at 1103 South Sixth Street, Champaign, Illinois 61820 or at the ARC on Peabody Avenue.
No worries…you may audition on your concert instrument for your Marching Illini audition. Flute, F Horn, Euphonium, concert Tuba. If you are chosen to join the Marching Illini in the Fall, we provide all instruments to our members at no charge.
All instruments and equipment are provided by the Marching Illini at no cost to the student. All regular maintenance is covered by the Marching Illini but any additional damage will be the responsibility of the student.
Preseason camp begins one week before classes begin and consist of full-day rehearsals for the length of the camp, 9 AM – 10 PM.
During the fall semester, MI rehearsals are held Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday from 5:00-6:30 PM, Thursday nights from 8:00 – 9:30 PM, and Saturday mornings on game day. Drumline, Illinettes, and Color Guard members rehearse 1-2 additional times per week in sectionals for preparation of Game Day.
Rehearsals are held in historic Harding Band Building, Memorial Stadium, and the Marching Illini practice field which is located on the corner of First and Gregory.
The Marching Illini Preseason Camp takes place on the University of Illinois campus in August – one week before classes begin. All members report on Sunday – one week before classes begin – and can move in to their permanent on campus housing. This cost as well as meals are covered by the Marching Illini. Preseason Camp is required for all members of the Marching Illini.
There are no summer obligations or required rehearsals for members in the Marching Illini. We do host two summer sectionals that are optional for all members. In addition during these sectionals, the Guard and Illinettes host weekend clinics to learn a number of traditional routines.
The only required event during the summer is our Preseason Camp. For more information, visit our Camps and Clinics page.
The Marching Illini is an academic course. 1-3 hours of credit is awarded for participation in the band. All members must enroll in MUSC 487, Marching Illini in order to be an official member.
There are no charges associated with the use of university instruments, uniforms, or music. All members are required to provide the following: black marching shoes, khaki shorts – Guard and Illinettes members do have other items that need to be purchased. The Marching Illini provides free to our students, a number of other required items for rehearsal and game day attire.
The Marching Illini performs at all home games, including post-season bowl games. In addition, the Marching Illini performs at various exhibition performances with the Chicago Bears, Bands of America, and high schools throughout the state and typically one away game each season. All expenses associated with travel are paid for by the Marching Illini.
Every 4 years, the Marching Illini travels to Dublin, Ireland for the official St. Patrick’s Festival Parade. Our next trip is March 2026.
The Marching Illini performs a new and different show for each home game. Typically, we will perform 7-8 new shows each season.
Unfortunately, we do not offer any scholarships at this time. A Marching Illini Scholarship Endowment has been created and we are in the midst of growing that fund further.
You must complete an audition registration form located on this website under JOIN. All audition information is posted under JOIN so be sure to read through all of this information. If you have any questions about this process or anything else, feel free to contact Professor Houser (bhouser2@illinois.edu), Director of the Marching Illini or you can call the Illinois Bands office at 217.333.3025 for more information.