Athletic Bands
The Athletic Bands are among the most visible musical ensembles at
Otterbein University and contain a cross-section of most (if not all)
the major areas of study at Otterbein. All Otterbein students who
perform on a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument, as well as
visual performers including color guard and twirlers are welcome to join
the Cardinal Marching Band.
Incoming freshmen who commit to perform with the Cardinal Marching
Band for four years are
eligible for an Athletic Bands Participation Award in the amount of
$1,000 per year/$4,000 over four years.
For questions about Athletic Bands at Otterbein, the Athletic Bands Participation Award, or Auditions:
Dr. Michael Yonchak
Assistant Professor/Director of Athletic Bands
myonchak@otterbein.edu
Cardinal Marching Band
The Otterbein University Cardinal Marching Band is one of the largest
and most active student groups on campus. The Cardinal Band performs at
all home games and homecoming events, maintains a presence in various
campus activities, and travels to pre-designated away games and high
school festivals each season.
The Cardinal Band also maintains our ever-popular "Little Red Band,"
which acts as our on-call unit. This group will make appearances as
requested by various offices on campus, and has performed for various
Homecoming events, President's office functions, and athletic events
that a marching band would not normally attend. Prospective students can
see the Little Red Band in action in the tailgate lots during fall
football games... or perhaps lurking around campus during the year!
The Cardinal Marching Band performs for over 30,000 people each year
and through over 100 years of service remains one of the Midwest's
premier small college marching bands.
Performance opportunities include:
- All standard marching wind instruments (brass and woodwinds)
- A complete marching percussion section (no front ensemble/pit/keyboards)
- The Cardinal Guard: spinning flags and weapons
- Otterbein Twirlers: our majorette squad
The 2013 Cardinal Marching Band Summer Newsletter is available for you to download HERE.
2013 Cardinal Band Drum line audition information is now available for you to download HERE.
How do I join?
Easy! Just complete these simple steps:
- Email Dr. Michael Yonchak if you are interested in joining the band in future years. If you will be marching this year, fill out this form.
- Register for MUSC 4103 - be sure to choose the correct section,
either 1 credit or zero credit. All members must register for this
course; be sure to inform your academic advisor when you sign up for
classes. New students must be especially careful to remember this course
during summer registration sessions.
- Are you interested in receiving financial aid for participating in the athletic bands? Please contact Dr. Yonchak for more information on the Athletic Bands Participation Award.
- That's it! We'll be sending detailed band camp information over the summer.
Athletic Bands Participation Award
What is it?
The Athletic Bands Participation
Award is designed to assist students who elect to commit to perform with
Otterbein Athletic Bands. Award recipients receive $1,000 per
year/$4,000 over four years.
Who is eligible?
Any incoming Otterbein student
who performs on a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument as well as
visual performers, including color guard and twirlers. You do not have
to be a music major; our members represent almost every major and field
of study on campus.
Next, all students must audition to be eligible for the Athletic
Bands Participation Award. These auditions are for placement only and
are not competitive. Percussion and Visual Performers may have slightly
different audition expectations due to the nature of these sections.
Percussionists and Visual Performers must audition in person. For
more information, or to schedule an audition, please contact Professor
Michael Yonchak at myonchak@otterbein.edu.
Woodwind and Brass Players may submit a recording instead of
auditioning in person to be considered for the Athletic Bands
Participation Award. Woodwind and Brass recordings should contain the
following:
- Two contrasting etudes - one demonstrating your ability to play lyrical melodies, and a second to highlight your technical ability
- Two major scales of your choice, in your full range of the instrument
- Chromatic scale, in your full range of the instrument
Recordings can be done on cassette tape, or submitted on CD
On the tape case/CD label, please write your name, home address, and e-mail address, and mail your recording to:
Michael S. Yonchak
Department of Music
1 South Grove Street
Westerville, OH 43081
Special Notes:
- Students who have already auditioned for a Talent Award as a
woodwind or brass music major or for a non-music major Participation
Award do not need to re-audition for the Athletic Bands award unless
they intend to participate as a visual or percussion performer.
- Percussion (drumline) and visual performer (color guard and twirler) auditions are required except in serious
extenuating circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. No thanks, I've "been there and done that."
A. Whether your high school experience is a competition-driven program, a high-energy
show band, or somewhere in-between, the Cardinal Band promises to
present a program unlike any other. We encourage prospective members to
attend a football or basketball game with us - students have been known
to shadow rehearsals and even sit in with the Cardinal Band on game
days.
Q. Won't it take up too much time?
A. While there is a certain time commitment with an ensemble such as the Cardinal Marching Band, we
have become highly efficient in how we organize rehearsals and
performances. The Cardinal Band rehearses on Tuesdays and Thursdays from
4:05pm until 5:50pm and on Saturdays before home games. Basketball Band
rehearsals are scheduled as needed in the early part of the season.
Q. Is it a class? Will it take up room in my schedule?
A. Cardinal
Marching Band and Basketball Pep Band are both credited classes: MUSC
453. You can take it for 1 credit if you have room or for zero credit
depending on the demands of your schedule.
Q. What if I have a course conflict, like a lab or honors seminar?
A.
We understand that sometimes labs and degree requirements get in the
way, and with enough advance notice, the Cardinal Band can be fairly
flexible. These are approved on an individual basis in consultation with
your professors.
Q. I probably won't even get through the audition.
A. The audition
for wind players in the Cardinal Marching Band is for the Athletic
Bands Participation Award and for placement only. Whether it has been a
few months or a few years since you last played your instrument, it is
never too late to pick it up again. We want members who want to be
members; desire is more important than virtuoso performance.
Percussionists and Visual Performers audition at the same time to
determine basic skills and placement within the section.
Q. This one time, at band camp . . .
A. The Cardinal Marching Band
does have an "early week" camp that takes place prior to New Student
Weekend and the start of Fall Quarter. Visual Performers and Percussion
come in a few days earlier due to the nature of their sections. Students
are allowed to move into their permanent campus housing at the start of
this camp and all meals are provided. There is a band fee to cover
meals, t-shirts, and other supplies.
For questions about Athletic Bands at Otterbein, the Athletic Bands Participation Award, or Auditions:
Dr. Michael Yonchak
Assistant Professor/Director of Athletic Bands
myonchak@otterbein.edu