Pep Band

Have you noticed the upbeat music energizing the crowd during NIU basketball games and volleyball matches? That's not the Huskie Marching Band, it's the NIU Pep Band!

Fall Pep Band

During the fall semester, the Huskie Pep Band performs during most home women’s volleyball matches and most pre-season home men’s and women’s basketball games.

Usually, the Pep Band only has a few rehearsals over the course of the fall semester; the majority of the class meetings are performances. Rehearsals in the fall usually take place on Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m. in the Music Building.

Membership in the fall semester is separate from membership in the spring semester. However, many students choose to participate in Pep Band during both semesters!

Spring Pep Band

During the spring semester, the Huskie Pep Band performs during most home men’s and women’s basketball games. The Pep Band also gets to travel to any post-season tournaments!

Usually, the Pep Band has very few rehearsals during the spring semester; the majority of the class meetings are performances. Rehearsals in the spring usually take place in the Convocation Center before the start of basketball games.

Membership in the spring semester is separate from membership in the fall semester. However, many students choose to participate in Pep Band during both semesters!

Become a Member

Membership in the Huskie Pep Band is open to all NIU students, regardless of major, who have at least high school instrumental experience.

Instruments accepted in the Pep Band are listed under "instrumentation".

Auditions are required for new members - see audition information below for details.

The Huskie Pep Band is an official ensemble of the NIU School of Music, and members receive academic credit for participation.

You can sign up for Pep Band (either in the fall or spring) by enrolling in MUSE 336 - section 001. Feel free to sign up for the class before auditioning!

Audition Information

All new members are required to audition to become a part of the Huskie Pep Band. Auditions generally take place during the first rehearsal of each semester. To get a sense of the music we’ll be playing, check out some of our standard music used in the Huskie Marching Band, available in the Music Library

The audition process is slightly different for different sections:

  • Wind instruments: Your audition will consist of playing some of our standard music along with the rest of your section. New wind instrument members may be asked to play privately for the director, but are generally evaluated as a part of their section during the first rehearsal of the semester.
  • Rhythm section instruments: Your audition will consist of playing some of our standard music along with the rest of the Pep Band. Because the Rhythm Section instruments are generally single-player instruments (ie, only one person plays drum set at a time), players are evaluated more individually. New rhythm section members may be asked to play privately for the director, but are generally evaluated over the course of the first rehearsal of the semester.

For More Information

Please contact our director, Bennett Konstans or call the Band Office at 815-753-1042.


Instrumentation

Wind instruments:

  • Flute/piccolo
  • Clarinet
  • Alto saxophone
  • Tenor saxophone
  • Trumpet
  • Mellophone
  • Trombone
  • Baritone
  • Sousaphone

Rhythm section:

  • Electric bass
  • Drum set
  • Latin percussion

Contact Us

Marching Band
School of Music
815-753-1042
band@niu.edu

Request Information

Back to top