Bands
Concert, athletic, and jazz bands are general education classes open to any Illinois State University student wishing to participate. You do not have to be a music major to perform, though some require an audition.
Performances of the Illinois State University bands are open to the Illinois State University community and the public. Tickets are available at the Center for the Performing Arts (CPA) Box Office or football tickets are available at GoRedbirds.com.
Concert Ensembles
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Wind Symphony
The Illinois State University Wind Symphony is the University’s premier wind band with a national and international reputation for exceptional artistic achievement. The Wind Symphony performs, records, and tours regularly each semester.
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Symphonic Winds
The Illinois State University Symphonic Winds is comprised of some of the most outstanding wind, brass, and percussion players from across campus. They perform the highest quality wind band literature, on and off campus, each semester.
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Symphonic Band
The Illinois State University Symphonic Band is comprised of talented wind, brass, and percussion players from across campus. They perform quality band literature at two concerts each semester.
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University Band
The University Band is comprised of non-music majors and music majors gaining experience on a secondary instrument. This ensemble provides students the opportunity to continue playing while devoting the major portion of their time to other academic disciplines.
Athletic Bands
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Big Red Marching Machine
The Illinois State University Marching Band, “The Big Red Marching Machine,” has a long and proud history of performances at major events at home and across the Midwest.
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Pep Band
The Illinois State University Pep Band performs at all Redbird Volleyball and Basketball games and campus events year round.
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BRMM Auxiliaries
The Color Guard, Drumline, Redline Express Dance Team, and Twirlers function as sections within the Big Red Marching Machine (BRMM).
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Alumni Band
The Alumni Band is open to all graduates and former students who participated in Big Red Marching Machine. Past members of BRMM Auxiliaries and Pep Band are also welcome.
Jazz Bands
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Jazz Ensembles
Our jazz ensembles perform a wide range of big band literature including all styles from historical to cutting edge.
Band Festivals and Competitions
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Marching Band Championships
The Illinois State Marching Band Championships is one of the oldest events of its kind in the state of Illinois. Over forty of the state’s finest high school marching bands compete in preliminary and finals competition.
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Jazz Festival
The annual Illinois State University Jazz Festival is the highlight of the year for jazz on campus. In addition to a competition between numerous high school and junior high jazz ensembles, the festival features two evening showings of a collaborative performance by ISU Jazz Ensembles with a renowned guest artist.
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Concert Band Festival
The annual Illinois State Concert Band Festival is open to both junior high and high school bands.
Band Director Events
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Band Director Workshop
Get new tools and resources to improve your skills as a band director.
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Wind Conducting Workshop
An all-day workshop including two conducting sessions featuring the ISU Symphonic Winds and Wind Symphony.
Prospective Student Events
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Spend a Day with Big Red Marching Machine
Join the Big Red Marching Machine for a home football game and halftime performance.
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Band Camps
A week-long program for students enrich their understanding of music.
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ILMEA Band Audition Preparation Day
High school band students are invited to this free event to learn audition preparation techniques from Illinois State University applied faculty.
Faculty and Staff
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Anthony C. Marinello, III
Director of Bands -
F. Mack Wood
Associate Director of Bands and Director of BRMM -
TJ Mack
Assistant Director of Bands -
Thomas J. Marko
Director of Jazz Studies -
Lydia Sheehan
Band Office Administrator
Get in Touch
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For more information about any of the Bands at Illinois State University, email isubands@IllinoisState.edu.
News and Events
See what is happening in the School of Music.
Food drive for School Street Food Pantry conducted by Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts, December 2-18
From Monday, December 2 through Wednesday, December 18, Fine Arts faculty, staff, students, and guests attending upcoming events will have the opportunity to donate non-perishable and personal care items and compete as part of a school/program team to collect the most items for the School Street Food Pantry.
Illinois State University Bands Mission Statement
The mission of the Illinois State University Bands is to promote and foster the highest artistic achievement in music-making, music learning, and musical experience for our student musicians and our patrons. We will create a diverse educational environment that addresses the needs of our future performers, educators, and scholars with a commitment to the growth of each individual as an artist.
We will promote the growth of the wind band medium by carefully creating concert experiences for our students and audiences that uphold essential histories and traditions, but also innovatively look to future possibilities. We will support recognized and promising composers and seek out new opportunities for creative collaborations.
The Illinois State University Bands will strive to become a cultural destination for the university and its surrounding community by maintaining a welcoming environment for students across campus and the community at large. We will expand the impact of Illinois State University through outreach, service, and leadership at the community, state, national, and international levels.