General Audition Information

Auditioning for UI Bands

All students must audition for acceptance into the University of Illinois Band Program. This strict policy is one way the University of Illinois Band Program lives up to its historic responsibility of international excellence. Please read this page carefully.  

Logistics

Wind/Brass/Percussion Acceptance Auditions take place in the Harding Band Building.  The building is located at 1103 S. Sixth Street in Champaign.  Parking is available at meters on the street in front of the building. On most weekend dates both parking lots and meters are free and open to the public (except 24/7 reserved spots).

On your audition day you should plan to arrive at the Harding Band Building at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled audition time.

Enter the building and proceed to Room 140 (main office) where you will check in, receive final instructions and location of warm up rooms and audition rooms.

If you have any further questions regarding the audition please contact us at 217-333-3025. 

Wind/Brass/Percussion Auditions
(New Students)

Band program acceptance auditions last approximately 10 minutes. If accepted into the program, you will be given further information regarding your options and actual placement audition proceedures. Candidates must prepare the following for the UI Bands Acceptance Audition:

  • Two scales of your choice, plus chromatic scale throughout your workable range
  • 2-minute prepared work (solo, etude, excerpt, concerto, etc.)
  • Sight reading
  • Concert Percussion: Sight reading on your selected instrument and a prepared work on your selected instrument not to exceed 2 minutes.
  • Drumline audition materials posted under "Drumline Auditions" on the "Athletic Bands Audition" page

Audition & Clinic Dates

  • Saturday, February 11, 2012 (Audition Date for Woodwinds/Brass/Percussion)
  • Saturday, February 18, 2012 (Illinette, Flag, and Drumline Clinics)
  • Friday, March 2, 2012 (Audition Date for Woodwinds/Brass/Percussion - IN CHICAGO AREA)
  • Saturday, March 10, 2012 (Illinette, Flag, and Drumline Clinics)
  • Saturday, March 10, 2012 (Audition Date for Woodwinds/Brass/Percussion)
  • Saturday, March 31, 2012 (Audition Date for Illinette, Flag, and Drumline)

*Marching Illini may be filled before summer audition dates. Audition Early! 

  • Saturday, May 19, 2012 (Audition Date for Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion)
  • Saturday, June 9, 2012 (Audition Date for Woodwinds/Brass/Percussion)

Note:  "Percussion" refers to concert band acceptance and "Drumline" refers to Marching Illini.

Schedule a Wind/Brass/Percussion Audition

Call the main band office at 217-333-3025 or e-mail bands@illinois.edu.  

Special audition times can be made if you are unable to attend one of these audition dates. If a student desires to audition on multiple instruments (for instance, alto and tenor saxophone) they should sign up for multiple time slots.

Wind/Brass/Percussion Acceptance Audition Information

Candidates who have taken the UI Band Acceptance Audition should hear back by e-mail within one week of your audition regarding your invitation to join concert bands and/or attend Marching Illini camp. 

Read more about athletic band auditions HERE.

Read more about concert band auditions HERE.

More Acceptance Audition Information

The acceptance audition for concert bands and athletic bands is the same audition. All new students must be enrolled at the University of Illinois to participate in Illinois Bands.

All ensembles are open to any University of Illinois student (all majors) based on audition.  

Students who participate in the UI Concert and Athletic Band Program represent virtually every college and discipline on campus. 

For Music Majors

Those accepted as Music Majors are automatically admitted into the Band Division. All Music Majors will go through concert ensemble placement auditions during the first week of the semester. Information about these auditions will be posted on www.music.illinois.edu by July 1, 2012.

Those interested in the Marching Illini will be invited automatically to the pre-season band camp in August. Marching Illini information will be available on the Marching Illini page by June 1, 2012. Final determination for the 2012 Marching Illini will be made at the conclusion of pre-season band camp. 

Current U of I Students

If you are a returning student and have been enrolled in the UI Band Program (in any band) within the last two years, there is no need to take the Acceptance Audition again. 

Any current UI student who has not been enrolled in UI Bands within the past two years must take the "Acceptance Audition" on any of the listed dates above.