- Illini Drumline
The Illini Drumline is the marching percussion section of the
Marching Illini , the Marching Band at the University of Illinois. Instrumentation varies from year to year, but typically includes 10 snare drums, 5 tenors, 5 bass drums, and 10 cymbals.The Illini Drumline goes back to 1906, the inaugural season of the band itself. The Illini Drumline made a major transition in 1976 under the leadership of the section leader at the time, Russ Weber. The major influence for Russ' changes was
drum and bugle corps drumming, which was quite advanced compared to traditional Big Ten marching band drumming at that time. Since then, the Illini Drumline has been strongly influenced by modern drum corps techniques and arranging.Activities
A season with the Illini Drumline begins in January or February, when audition camps begin for the upcoming fall season. On average, approximately 50 players audition for the potential 10 snare, 5 tenor, 5 bass drum, and 10 cymbal spots that are typically open in the drumline. Every performer must reaudition for a spot, there are no reserved spots for veterans.
Auditionees are evaluated over the course of several Saturday camps and the line is normally set in its final form at the beginning of Marching Illini band camp in August. The Illini Drumline stresses progress and improvement at all times between camps and day-to-day. That idea weights heavily into selection of members.
The Illini Drumline performs for all home Illini football games, at the Illini Marching Festival, at the Marching Illini Concert at Assembly Hall, for select games, and for several other sporting events and charity events throughout the year.
Legacy
In past years, the Illini Drumline has performed at winter competition such as the Glenbrook North Spartan Percussion Invitational.
More than forty members of the Illini Drumline over the past 30 years have been members of touring drum and bugle corps, such as The Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment, The Cadets, Glassmen, Pioneer, Blue Stars, Southwind, and Madison Scouts. The line has had members of 18 corps, and at least six have won DCI World Championships.
External links
* [http://www.uidrumline.com Illini Drumline]
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