Marching Illini

ILLINOIS BANDS E-NEWSLETTER

December 2024

Patrick Harlin World Premiere and Composer Residency

From December 2-5, composer Patrick Harlin will join us as composer in residence with Illinois Bands, culminating in the world premiere of his new work, The Time Traveler, with the Illinois Wind Symphony conducted by Dr. Kevin Geraldi on December 4. While on campus, Harlin will rehearse with the Wind Symphony, and meet with conductors, composers, and instrumentalists from across Illinois Bands and the School of Music.

Regarding his new piece, Harlin writes, "While other musical works may evoke imagery of specific places, The Time Traveler explores time. It asks the listener, 'when do you wish to go, historically?' This celebration of the wind ensemble sends a singular musical theme to some of the best-known eras in the development of concert music and band repertoire, as well as a few time periods that just seem like fun to visit. The theme takes on the stylistic guises and tropes of each era it visits in 9 short movements [ranging from the 1100s to the year 2037]. Everything in The Time Traveler relates to this opening theme in some way."

You can learn more about the concert through some video previews! Visit our YouTube channel to see interviews with composer Patrick Harlin and new UIUC professor of saxophone Dr. Nicki Roman.

Much Love for the Marching Illini Trombones

On November 2nd we celebrated many student accomplishments with the awarding of our Marching Illini Loyalty Scholarships. Thank you to Ed Harvey ('72, '76) and Cynthia Capek, Peter ('82, '84) and Betty March ('81), and Jim ('91, '92, '94, '04) and Erin Lowe ('15, '16, '20), for helping us establish the fund! The full list of scholarship recipients is below. We also introduced Mary Wilson to the MI Trombones. Mary recently established a new trombone scholarship in memory of her husband, former MI trombonist Ward Wilson ('86), awarded to Phoebe Gerstenecker. Additionally, we announce yet another new MI Trombone Scholarship which was awarded to Claudia Reckamp. We thank the anonymous donors who started this newest MI trombone scholarship! Thanks again to Ed Karrels for donating our stunning inventory of trombones!

Stay tuned as we continue to build our scholarship support for our Marching Illini members!

Photos: MI Trombones with Mary Wilson and David Allen, Mary Wilson with first Ward & Mary Wilson Trombone Scholarship winner Phoebe Gerstenecker.

Marching Illini Scholarship Recipients

Loyalty Scholarship:

Erin Stanton, Mark VandeWiele, Annika Marchi, Ishan Bogetto, Maia Eames, Bex Muise, Lucy Cinnamon, Josie LaPapa, Axel Aguilera, Luke Elias, Siddharth Singh, Ryan Bushell, Celeste Tomaselli, Caitlin Niesman, Natalie Foote, Avery Ahrendt, Autumn Bush, Allie DeMay, Mae Gentry, Gabby Manriquez, Matthew Currey, Gabby Contreras, Maddie Kocolowski, Ellie Pierzina, Tyler Lange, Wilson Shrout, Alexis Esher, Jake Vanoss, Kendall McFarlin, Keith Shedlebower, Bailey Yoon, Deven Rea, Tyler Van Draska, Anna Poel, Ethan Bello, Evan Stanton

Pricket Engineering Scholarship:

Max Lanham and Evan Schmitz

Drum Major Scholarship:

Alex Hall, Poorna Kumar, and Matthew Felbein

Gary E. Smith Excellence in Leadership:

Stefan Loest

Marching Illini Trombone Scholarship:

Claudia Reckamp

Ward and Mary Wilson Trombone Scholarship:

Phoebe Gerstenecker

Drumline Scholarship:

Sofi Riedel

New Marching Illini Van

Were excited to announce the newest addition to Illinois Bands: a brand-new van! Our old van had served us well for over twenty years, but after many miles and memories, it was time for an upgrade. With a fresh design, more space, and even a backup camera, this investment will improve our efficient transportation of Marching Illini and Illinois Bands equipment all year long. Were especially thankful to the donors to our March Forth campaign who helped make this new vehicle possible, among many other initiatives across the Marching Illini. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled around the Harding Band Building to see it in action!