Prairie Thunder bands are open to all UIS students, alumni, faculty/staff, and local community members.
To schedule an audition e-mail Dr. Walsh at awals2@uis.edu or call 206-7549. Please schedule your audition by December 1st.
Audition Requirements and Repertoire:
- F and Ab CONCERT scales
- Prepared excerpt (below)
- Sight reading
- Drumset – be able to demonstrate the following styles/feels: Rock, Swing, and multiple Latin feels.
Prepared Excerpts (click instrument to download and print):
- Flute
- Clarinet
- Alto Sax
- Tenor Sax / Baritone TC
- Trumpet
- Mellophone / Horn
- Trombone / Baritone BC
- Tuba / Bass
- Drum Set / Percussion
- Guitar / Keyboard – improvise from flute or tuba/bass part.
Musicians interested in auditioning on instruments not listed here should contact Abigail Walsh at awals2@uis.edu for more information.
Women’s Basketball Prairie Thunder Jazz Combo 2012-13 performance dates:
Thursday, January 24, 2013 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 26, 2013 1 p.m.
Saturday, February 02, 2013 1 p.m.
Thursday, February 14, 2013 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 16, 2013 1 p.m.
Thursday, February 21, 2013 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 28, 2013 5:30 p.m.
Men’s Basketball Prairie Thunder Band 2012-13 performance dates:
Thursday, January 24, 2013 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 26, 2013 3 p.m.
Saturday, February 02, 2013 3 p.m.
Thursday, February 14, 2013 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 16, 2013 3 p.m.
Thursday, February 21, 2013 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 28, 2013 7:30 p.m.
Rehearsals for each band will be held as needed and scheduled around members’ availabilities.
Get Paid for Prairie Thunder:
In addition to contacting director Abigail Walsh for an audition time, UIS students must submit an employment application through “UIS Career Connect” via the Career Development Center website, or fill out the form provided at the audition.
- Prairie Thunder Band (Men’s Basketball)- minimum wage, amounting to approximately $24.00 per game depending on overtime, etc.
- Prairie Thunder Jazz Combo (Women’s Basketball)- flat rate $75.00 per game.
About the Prairie Thunder Basketball Bands:
The University of Illinois at Springfield employs two bands which perform at all home basketball games beginning in the Spring semester. The “Prairie Thunder Band” performs at Men’s Basketball games, and the “Prairie Thunder Jazz Combo” performs at Women’s Basketball games. Both include students, community members, faculty and staff musicians.
The Prairie Thunder Band is a traditional collegiate athletic band comprised of brass, woodwind, percussion (drum set) and electronic instruments (guitar, bass, keyboard, etc.). The Prairie Thunder Jazz Combo is a 6 member jazz combo – 3 member rhythm section and 3 “horns” (any woodwind or brass).
Spirited musicians are invited to audition for both bands, and all instruments are welcome! Members of the Prairie Thunder Jazz Combo are expected to demonstrate significant competence both reading written charts AND creative improvisation.
20 paid positions are available in the Prairie Thunder Band, but all qualified musicians will be invited to perform with the band. Musicians earning paid positions will be expected to be in attendance at all basketball games. Musicians invited to play with the band but not as a paid musician will remain competitive for paid positions should they become available.
