Illinois Bands Audition Information

Welcome to the Illinois Bands Audition Information Page -  a resource for auditioning for one of our 13 ensembles in the historic University of Illinois Bands program.  The information provided here will assist you in making plans to visit one of our Drumline, Illinette, or Guard Clinics as well as setting up an audition for one of our six Concert Bands or "The Nation's Premier College Marching Band" - The Marching Illini!  

Audition & Practice Session Dates
  • Saturday, February 11, 2012 - Woodwinds | Brass | Concert Percussion Auditions
  • Saturday, February 18, 2012 - Illinette  | Guard  | Drumline Practice Session
  • Friday, March 2, 2012 - Woodwinds | Brass | Percussion Auditions at Prospect HS 3-5 PM
  • Saturday, March 10, 2012 - Illinette | Guard  | Drumline Practice Session
  • Saturday, March 10, 2012 - Woodwinds | Brass | Concert Percussion Auditions
  • Saturday, March 31, 2012 - Illinette | Guard | Drumline Auditions
  • Saturday, May 19, 2012 - Woodwind | Brass | Concert Percussion Auditions
  • Saturday, June 9, 2012 - Woodwinds | Brass | Concert Percussion Auditions
*Marching Illini May be filled before summer audition dates. Audition Early before all spots are filled!
 
Chicagoland Audition Day at Prospect High School
  • The Illinois Bands and the Marching Illini will be holding a special audition day at Prospect High School on March 2nd from 3-5 PM.  If you are interested in auditioning on this day, please contact the University of Illinois Bands Office at 217.333.3025 or email Professor Houser at bhouser2@illinois.edu
Audition Logistics & Results
  • Special audition times can be made if you are unable to attend one of the 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.
  • All Auditions take place in the Harding Band Building.  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).
  • 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.
  • 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 the Marching Illini Pre-Season Camp.
  • Call the main band office at 217-333-3025 or e-mail bands@illinois.edu to schedule your audition
  • All Drumline, Guard, and Illinette Prospective Students need to register below for the clinic and audition days
If you have further questions regarding the audition, please feel free to contact us:
 
University of Illinois Bands
1103 South Sixth Street 
Champaign, Illinois 61820
Office:  217-333-3025 | Email:  bands@illinois.edu
 
UI Bands Acceptance Auditions & Marching Illini Auditions
Illinois Bands Acceptance & Marching Illini auditions last approximately 10 minutes. If accepted into the band program, you will be given information regarding your options and actual placement audition procedures (at Pre-Season camp for the Marching Illini, and the first week of classes for concert bands). Candidates must prepare the following for the UI Bands Acceptance Audition and Marching Illini 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 below under "Drumline Auditions"
Drumline Practice Sessions & Auditions
Students should plan to attend clinics in preparation for the March 31 Audition. While it is to the student's benefit to attend both clinics, missing a clinic date due to a serious conflict will not hurt a student's chance of being selected. Students should make every possible effort to take the audition on the formal audition date.  If you have a conflict with this date, please contact Professor Houser at bhouser2@illinois.edu to arrange an alternate date.  
  • Saturday, February 18, 2012 - Drumline Practice Session | 12:00 - 5:00 PM
  • Saturday, March 10, 2012 - Drumline Practice Session | 12:00 - 5:00 PM
  • Saturday, March 31, 2012 - Drumline Auditions | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Click below for the Drumline Clinic and Audition Materials:

Click HERE to register for the Drumline practice sessions and audition

Click HERE for the practice session schedule and audition components

For more information on the Drumline, click HERE

Guard Practice Session & Auditions 
Students should plan to attend clinics in preparation for the March 31 Audition.  While it is to the student's benefit to attend both clinics, missing a clinic date due to a serious conflict will not hurt a student's chance of being selected. Students should make every possible effort to take the audition on the formal audition date.  If you have a conflict with this date, please contact Professor Houser at bhouser2@illinois.edu to arrange an alternate date.  
  • Saturday, February 18, 2012 - Guard Practice Session | 12:00 - 5:00 PM
  • Saturday, March 10, 2012 - Guard Practice Session | 12:00 - 5:00 PM
  • Saturday, March 31, 2012 - Guard Auditions | 12:00 - 5:00 PM

Click HERE to register for the Guard clinics and auditions

Click HERE for the clinic schedule and audition components

To learn more about the Marching Illini Flags, click HERE

Illinette Practice Session & Auditions
While it is to the student's benefit to attend both clinics, missing a clinic date due to a serious conflict will not hurt a student's chance of being selected. Students MUST take the audition on the formal audition date. 
  • Saturday, February 18, 2012 - Illinette Practice Session | 12:00 - 5:00 PM
  • Saturday, March 10, 2012 - Illinette Practice Session | 12:00 - 5:00 PM
  • Saturday, March 31, 2012 - Illinette Auditions | 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Click HERE to register for the Illinette clinics and auditions

Click HERE for the clinic schedule and audition components 

To learn more about the Illinettes Dance Team, click HERE

Illinois Basketball Bands
Auditions for the 2011-2012 Basketball Auditions will take place on Thursday, October 27 in Professor Houser's office from 2:00-5:30 PM for Winds and 5:30-6:50 PM for Rhythm Section.  If you were a member of the Basketball Band last year, you do not need to audition.  If you are new to Basketball Bands, you must sign up for an audition time in the Harding Band Building.  All students must sign up for the academic class offered in the spring of 2012.

Auditions will take 5 minutes per person and will consist of the following:

  • 2 Major Scales of your choice
  • Ascending Chromatic Scale demonstrating your full range
  • Prepared Excerpt of your choice
  • Sight-Reading

Auditions for Rhythm Section students will include the following:

  • Variety of different grooves/styles
  • Prepared Excerpt or Song of your choice
  • Sight-Reading 
Orange & Blues Band
Auditions for the 2012 Orange and Blues Bands will take place during the first day of Marching Illini Pre-Season Camp.  This audition is based on memorization of the traditional music posted online under the Members Only Section of the Marching Illini page.  Results will be posted Sunday night of Pre-Season Camp.