Junior High Concert Band Contest
High School Concert Band Contest
Jazz Band Contest and Festival
The Illinois State University Big Red Marching Machine = Winds, Percussion, Colorguard, Baton & Dance Team
Dr. Daniel A. Belongia, BRMM Director
Belongia@IllinoisState.edu
WE WANT YOU IN THE BIG RED!!
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. Each year, the marching band performs at all home football games and for an audience of over 10,000 at the State of Illinois Invitational High School Marching Band Championship. Known as one of finest of its kind, The Big Red has performed in events across the United States and Europe.
WE WANT YOU to be a part of it!
All wind, colorguard, and percussion players are accepted without audition. A GOOD ATTITUDE is all that is required! Percussionists will participate in mini-camps to determine the specific instrument to be marched, and more information is below. The Dance Team will hold auditions in late April, and more information is below. Email the instructor of the colorguard, baton, dance, or drumline for specific information about each area, and don't hesitate to email the marching band director at any time.
PDF Doc of FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FIGHT SONG played by Big Red Marching Machine in "WHY ISU" commercial
The Illinois State University Big Red Marching Machine = Winds, Percussion, Colorguard, Baton & Dance Team
Dr. Daniel A. Belongia, BRMM Director
Belongia@IllinoisState.edu
For information regarding Percussion, Dance, Colorguard, or Baton, please see below. Email the specific instructor of each area, and/or email Dr. B directly at any time. WE WANT YOU IN THE BIG RED!!
BRMM Drumline
The Drumline hosts three "mini-camps" over the summer in order to set a line for the fall. Attendance at all 3 camps is encouraged, but NOT required.
Summer 2012 Drumline Camp Tentative Schedule
The drumline instructor and/or drumline section leader are happy to answer any questions or provide more information.
Drumline instructor Dr. Ben Stiers -benstiers@gmail.com
Ben Stiers has been on the music faculty at ISU since the fall of 2011. He previously served as the percussion instructor at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. In addition, he has been a member of the marching percussion faculty for the Music for All Summer Symposium since 2003, and has been employed as a writer, arranger, instructor, and consultant for several high school percussion programs in Illinois, Nevada, and Kentucky.
Ben earned his DMA in Percussion Performance from the University of Kentucky, where he also received a certificate in music theory pedagogy. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and a Bachelor’s Degree from Illinois State University. His teachers include James B. Campbell, Paul Deatherage, John Willmarth, Dean Gronemeier, Timothy Jones, David Collier, and Tom Marko.
His performing experience includes extensive freelance work in the Las Vegas area, appearances with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, and performances abroad with chamber music ensembles in Australia and Taiwan. He also served as the Vice President of the Kentucky chapter of the Percussive Arts Society from 2010-2011. Dr. Stiers is an education endorser for Innovative Percussion, Inc.
Be sure to email the drumline instructor and/or drumline section leader to be in touch about all drumline details.
Section Leader Sean Higgins -- sehiggi@ilstu.edu
DRUMLINE EXERCISES AND WARM UP MATERIALS:
click on the link to download .pdf files of the music.
BRMM Dance Team - The "Redine Express Dancers"
Auditions for the 2012/2013 Redline Express Dance Team will be held in the North Gym of Horton Fieldhouse (located directly north of Redbird Arena). Email the coach, Katie Chengary, with any questions or more information -- klcheng@ilstu.edu
Katie Chengary is from Darien Illinois. She is the Redline Express Dance Coach after being a member for the past 4 years. She has a degree in Elementary and Middle Level Education.
Katie has been a dancer ever since she could walk. Her mother was also a dancer and danced for the Chicago Bulls. So dancing is in her blood. Katie has always been interested in all of the different styles of dance and she tries to incorporate that into the program.
Katie started her dancing by taking tap and ballet at an early age. Then she became a member of the Junior Luvabulls for 3 years. She continued her dancing career by being a member of her Junior High and High School dance team. Katie ended her High School dancing career by being the only member of her team having made a collegiate dance team. Katie loved being on Redline. The thrill of performing for a big crowd of people has always had Katie love dancing.
Redline is a great program and Katie is excited to be the coach. Katie tells the team that they are at ISU for school and then Redline comes next. Team members maintain a great GPA and still have time to do what they love.
Katie plans on always having dance in her life. No matter where life takes her she always wants to have dance to be a part of her life.
BRMM Colorguard
ISU does not require an audition to be a member of the colorguard! We welcome members with all levels of experience.
Email with any questions - nicholashoward.22@gmail.com
Nicholas T. Howard – Color Guard Instructor
The 2012 marching season will be Nick’s first on the Big Red Marching Machine’s staff. He is currently in his 6th year as a color guard choreographer, instructor, designer, and judge. Units with which he has worked include high schools in Illinois and Missouri.
Nick has been active in the marching arts since he was 11. Other than spending two seasons during high school in the color guard, he marched from junior high through college as a member of the saxophone section. During his time as a member of the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, he marched flag, rifle, and sabre. In May of 2011, Nick graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor’s degree in music education.
Redbird Batons
ISU is proud to maintain a strong tradition of baton twirlers in our band program. Email our baton coach, Amanda Heyden at anytime! -- amheyde@ilstu.edu
Amanda says: When I was younger all I wanted to do was find a hobby or a sport that I was good at. I tried a whole bunch of different sports and danced all of the time. Nevertheless, at the end of the day all I could do was throw a football in a decent spiral to my dad who was standing a couple yards away. Then at age 7, I saw a baton for the first time. My mom thought that a baton twirling class would be good for me; maybe work on my coordination a little. What she did not know was that we had just opened the door for something that was going to last a lifetime.
Learning to twirl is no easy task. But sticking with it and actually practicing is even harder. It took me patience and a lot of determination. However, going to Nationals at Notre Dame University and seeing people who are just as determined as myself makes the practicing and all the hours in the gym worth it. I remember winning my first national title and knowing that I finally had found something that I loved and wanted to do. Through baton, I have learned that teamwork is crucial and hard work is essential. Sometimes it is not the age that you start learning, but the conviction and dedication that you put forth. Yet, the most important lesson that I have come to learn is that being a coach and watching my students succeed is just as powerful as taking home a title of my own.
Courtside Players Pep Band
The Illinois State University "Courtside Players" pep band performs at all Redbird Volleyball and Basketball games and campus events year round. Membership is open to all Illinois State University students that participate in some other ISU band during the academic year. The fall athletic events are covered by the members of the BIG RED MARCHING MACHINE, but the Spring semester pep band needs great players! Every year, members of the pep band travel (all expenses covered) to the Missouri Valley Conference tournaments and any NCAA or NIT post-season play. Be a part of championship men's and women's basketball and the thrilling college hoops environment of REDBIRD ARENA! Join the COURTSIDE PLAYERS!!!
All woodwind and brass instruments are welcome! Rhythm section of drum set, auxillary percussion, electric bass, and keyboard is desired and these players do NOT have to be in another ISU band.
Email pep band director, Dr. Belongia, for more info - Belongia@IllinoisState.edu