University of Illinois 

2025 has been a great year for Illinois Bands. I am happy to share some specific highlights beyond our regular schedule of concerts and events, on behalf of my colleagues Barry Houser, Kim Fleming, and Hannah Rudy.

The year began with our annual Conducting Symposium, and Gary Green was our guest clinician. That was followed about two weeks later by our March Forth (March 4) annual day of crowd-sourced fundraising. Almost $250,000 was raised in that single day to support our program. In April 2025, we hosted Hub New Music for a weeklong residency to rehearse, perform, and record Gala Flagello’s The Bird-While. That session completed our Wind Symphony recording project, which should be released in winter 2026. In addition to the Flagello, the album will feature three works for which we were the lead commissioner: Chris Cerrone’s "Darkening, then Brightening," Patrick Harlin’s "The Time Traveler," and Hilary Purrington’s "apricity."

The Marching Illini had an amazing and full fall season. We hosted Mariachi de Joliet, a community based ensemble, for a show featuring traditional Mariachi music. For homecoming, we welcomed back legendary rock and roll band REO Speedwagon, which was founded at Illinois. We shared a memorable performance with their members. The MI season will end with a performance at the Music City Bowl on December 30.

We welcomed several new graduate students onto our team. Beau Bujol (DMA) and Pablo Elias-Rodriguez (MM) joined returning students Alex Mondragon (3rd year DMA conducting), JaQuan Wiley (2nd year MM conducting) in our conducting studio. Karen Kopecki (MME) and Limo Schissler (PhD) joined Jackson Parker (2nd year DMA trombone) and Sheridan Mackey (2nd year MM saxophone) as athletic bands TAs.

Many exciting things are in store for our program in 2026. Michael Haithcock will be the guest for our Conducting Symposium in February, the Illinois Wind Symphony will perform at the American Bandmasters Association convention in Chicago, the Marching Illini will travel to Ireland for the Dublin St. Patrick’s Day parade, we will host hundreds of alumni for a Concert Band reunion in June, and the Marching Illini will perform at the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in November. 

We’re also about to launch two commissions. Ricky Ian Gordon is orchestrating several of his art songs for voice and wind ensemble, and our premiere in spring 2027 will feature renowned baritone and Illinois faculty member, Nathan Gunn. Carlos Carrillo will be writing an 18-20 minute, multi-movement work for large wind ensemble, to be premiered in fall 2026. Both will be great pieces. If you would like more information about joining either consortium, please email me at kgeraldi@illinois.edu. I’ll be reaching out!

Happy Holidays to all!

Kevin Geraldi