Athletic Band

Join the Aviators Marching Band

Welcome to our UT Martin Aviators Marching Band and Basketball Band home page!

Our program offers two regularly performing groups throughout the academic year: The Aviators Marching Band (August – November) and the Basketball Band (October – March). Comprised of students of various majors from across the campus, each group prides itself on high-quality, energetic shows with a variety of music and drills. Both of these groups prove to be an integral part of home sporting events and are essential to the game day spirit.

Beyond the athletic events, the bands regularly perform in our community through parades and other service-oriented performances. It is not uncommon to see the one of the bands out performing at an area school promoting UT Martin.

Click on the Information Tab to read more about each ensemble, our scholarship opportunities, and general questions regarding UT Martin Aviators Marching Band and Basketball Band. Thank you for visiting our page and hope that you will consider joining us in the future.

If you will be a student at UTM in the fall and would like to be a member of the Aviators Marching Band please click here and complete the UTM Aviators Marching Band Registration Form. Later in the summer you will receive more information about the upcoming fall semester and schedule, including our band camp which is the week prior to fall classes in August.

If you have questions about UT Martin Aviators Marching Band and Basketball Band, please contact John Oelrich at joelrich@utm.edu.

John Oelrich, D.M.A.
Director of Bands
Department of Music
133 Fine Arts Bld. Martin, TN 38238
731-881-7403
https://www.utm.edu/academics/music-ensembles/aviators-marching-band-and-basketball-band.php

Groups

The Aviators Marching Band performs with an energetic style of marching and playing utilizing a wide variety of musical genres and styles. The Aviators Color Guard, sideline percussion, winds and field percussion provide the visual and musical excitement for the ensemble. The group regularly performs at home football games at Hardy Graham Stadium, local parades, and select exhibitions throughout the Fall Semester. Both campus musicians, students not majoring in music, as well as music majors are welcomed as members without audition. Scholarships are available to all registered performing members. If you would like to be a member of the Fall 2022 Aviators Marching Band please click here and complete the UTM Aviators Marching Band Registration Form. The Skyhawk Basketball Band is a select group auditioned around mid-October during the fall semester. The band performs through March of the spring semester. Comprised of roughly thirty members, the band plays a wide variety of exciting music as well as traditional UTM selections during home basketball games in the Elam Center. Skyhawk athletic teams belong to the OVC conference. Each spring the University sends the band to the OVC tournament and also travels with the team to any appearance earned in the NCAA tournament. Recent NCAA trips include Duke University in Chapel Hill, NC. and the United Center in Chicago, IL.

Performances

The Aviators Marching Band typically performs for all home football games, but not away games. Additionally, the band performs 2-3 local parades throughout the fall semester. On occasion, they will perform in exhibition at other regional contests or on other special music outings in the West Tennessee/Regional Area. The Aviators Marching Band also hosts an annual marching competition, The Aviators Marching Band Invitational. In addition to working alongside directors and professionals, the band performs in exhibition for a stadium full of high school bands and energetic fans. Skyhawk Basketball Band typically only performs at home games during the academic year and at the OVC Tournament. If the team qualifies we travel to the NCAA tournament as well.

How to Join

If you are interested in joining the Aviators Marching Band please click here and complete the UTM Aviators Marching Band Registration Form. If you are interested in the Skyhawk Basketball Band please email Dr. John Oelrich, Director of Bands, at joelrich@utm.edu for more information. Tryouts for Basketball Band will take place in October. More information will be posted here at a later date.

Scholarships

The Aviators: A service award scholarship is available for all registered performing members of the ensemble. Members should register for the class and fulfill the class requirements in order to receive their scholarship. We are also pleased to offer a limited number of the Aviators Marching Band Housing Scholarships to qualifying members of the Aviators Marching Band for the Fall. The scholarship reduces the cost of on-campus housing by $500 each semester, for a total reduction of $1000 per school year. If you are interested in applying for the Aviators Marching Band Housing Scholarship please complete the online application by clicking on the link below. UTM Aviators Marching Band Housing Scholarship Application Basketball Band: The ensemble is a scholarship based group. Auditions for the group are held in October. For more information see the How to Join section directly above

Color Guard & Percussion

The UTM Aviators Marching Band Color Guard performs with the band at all field and parade performances. If you are interested in being a member of the Aviators Color Guard please click here and complete the UTM Aviators Marching Band Registration Form. In lieu of tryouts this spring please have your band director or color guard instructor send a recommendation letter on your behalf outlining your experience and qualifications to Dr. John Oelrich, Director of Bands, at joelrich@utm.edu. The UTM Aviators Marching Band Percussion section will consist of standard battery instruments (snare, tenors, bass drums and cymbals) as well as sideline percussion with melodic instruments and a variety of accessories. If you are interested in being a member of the Aviators Marching Band Percussion section please click here and complete the UTM Aviators Marching Band Registration Form. Those interested in playing percussion within the Aviators ensemble will play standard battery instruments. Students who register to be members of the Aviators Marching Band Percussion section should plan to attend band camp as our drumline is set on the first day of band camp. Percussionists with interest in joining the Basketball Band will need to demonstrate proficiency on drumset. Contact Dr. John Oelrich, Director of Bands, for more information at joelrich@utm.edu.

Need an Instrument?

UT Martin has a select number of instruments for rent of which are available on a first come first serve basis for our members. Those in need of an instrument should plan on checking one out during their registration at Band Camp in the Fall.

Band Camp

Aviators Marching Band Camp dates have been tentatively set for Aug. 12-18, 2021, with the percussion, color guard and leadership team coming in on Aug. 12-13 and the horn line coming in on Aug. 14 for full band camp. The camp will end on Thursday, Aug. 18 in time for freshmen to participate in the activities for them on campus. Marching Band students will be able to move into their dorm room prior to band camp. More details will be posted in the next few weeks. An email will also be sent to all marching band members with instructions of how to request the early arrival with the Housing Office. 

Classes/Courses

Athletic Bands and our Concert Ensembles run concurrently through the fall and spring semesters. Below outlines our course offerings for those interested in the Aviators Marching Band and/or the Basketball Band. MUS 351 Athletic Band: The Aviators Marching Band. This class is open to all musicians with prior experience performing music. No audition required, but registration is mandatory. Basketball Band: there is no course registration for this ensemble. However, students should prepare for an audition in mid-October to join this ensemble. See information above under the How to Join heading.

View Athletic Band Handbook