They march in unison during football games. Instruments are secured in front of caped musicians and flags are held firmly in the air by the uniformed flag corp. Once announced, they all horde the field and stomp into position. Drums start rolling and horns sound.

The Marching Illini’s formations and cohesiveness may appear effortless, but achieving this effect requires a large amount of time, commitment and “sacrifices” to take place off the field.

PREPARATION

In the spring semester, the Marching Illini begins recruiting for the next year. The group holds auditions and tryouts for spots in the band.

“It’s easier than people think,” said Lynda Hernandez, co-captain and choreographer for the band’s flag section.

The group prepares for its auditions just as other campus clubs do, Hernandez said. Group members post flyers around campus, make announcements via the Marching Illini Web site and spread the news through the College of Music. Sometimes, the group visits high schools to let future University students know about upcoming auditions.

Auditions differ between the band’s various sections, Hernandez said. For the flag section, prospective flag dancers must learn a routine and repeat it in front of judges.

This memorization test is also done during the summer months when the band hosts week- and day-long camps for leaders and members.

Hernandez calls them intense.

“It’s all learning,” she said. “You have so much to learn and not that much time.”

Flag section members — old and new — are expected to memorize traditional routines and are given a pass or fail grade. If they fail, they must perform the routine for judges again until they pass, Hernandez said.

Once the school year begins, the Marching Illini rehearses on the South Quad daily. Sometimes, the entire organization practices together. Other times, certain sections and squads take the field alone. The beating of the drums echoes from the surrounding buildings and the sea of band members can be seen from across the square.

The practices last two to three hours. Band members are often encouraged not to take more than 16 hours of courses because of the commitment required throughout the semester.

The role is time-consuming and stressful, but the teams are rewarded for their hard work, Hernandez said.

“At the end of the day, though, it’s definitely worth it,” Hernandez said.

SOCIAL LIFE

Band members still find time to have fun and hang out together. Being in the group creates a strong bond between members, Joe Rush, leader of the trombone section, said.

Rush said he likes hanging around other band members because they share the same interests.

“I like being around a lot of good, talented people,” Rush said.

Rush said the band members often eat together and spend their free time with one another. It is easier to do because the group members spend so much time together during Marching Illini events, he said.

Hernandez agrees. Because rehearsals and meetings run so late, group members often miss dining hall dinners and find dinner together, she said.

“You have to make sacrifices like that,” Hernandez said. “You miss dinner with [each other] and you find dinner together.”

Members also plan parties, picnics and other social events throughout the year.

Many of the Marching Illini members prefer to live with one another as well, Rush and Hernandez said. Some live as roommates in the residence halls while others rent apartments together, sometimes keeping apartment leases in band members’ hands for years.

Christina Hahn, squad leader for the trombone section, said her roommates were involved in Marching Illini and said the group’s tight bond is what helps the organization of more than 300 performers come together so well on the field.

Hahn said the team’s director, Peter Griffin, is also part of the reason the entire band performs cohesively at games.

“Each show is definitely a challenge to learn,” Hahn said. “Our director really brings us together.”

POST FOOTBALL SEASON

When the football season ends, so does the Marching Illini. Well, not exactly. The group’s various sections often branch off into separate groups and perform for other local events.

Rush serves as co-director for the Orange and Blues Band. The Orange and Blues is student led and performs for other sport games on campus.

The band also performs for University and community events such as Quad Day and local festivals. The group recently performed at the annual Sweet Corn Festival in Urbana.

During the winter, many flag section members perform in the Winter Guard, Hernandez said.

With the time commitment, participating in the Marching Illini can be stressful at times and takes a lot of effort, Hahn said. In the end, she said, the rewards outweigh the hard work and the band members enjoy performing for fans and the team.

Rush agreed. He said everyone in the group wants to look good; that is what brings them together on and off the field.

“Everyone knows we’re concerned about how we look and sound, but we’re also concerned about the spirit of the group.”