August 30, 2024 • 21 mins
What sparks a lifelong passion for music? Join us as we uncover the journeys of Jack and Anna, two spirited members of the University of Illinois Marching Illini, as they prepare for a heartfelt return to their hometown of Geneseo. From the sousaphone to the trumpet, Jack and Anna reveal their deep connections to their instruments, the thrill of their transition from high school to college marching band, and the meticulous logistics behind traveling with such a large ensemble. Anna shares an insider’s perspective on how game day routines align with parade performances, all while emphasizing the unique energy that community events bring to their music.
But it's not just about the marching band. We dive into Jack and Anna's favorite activities and local foods in the Quad Cities, offering a taste of what they miss most when away. Imagine kayaking on the Hennepin Canal or savoring a scoop of Whitey's Graham Central Station ice cream. Our conversation also touches on their academic pursuits and future plans, with Anna's focus on music education and Jack's aspirations in financial planning and tax services. Their stories are rich with community pride, camaraderie, and the vibrant energy that makes their musical journey so special. Tune in for an episode that's both inspirational and filled with hometown nostalgia.
QC, That's Where is a podcast powered by Visit Quad Cities. Through the people, partnerships, and personalities woven throughout the Quad Cities region, you'll meet real Quad Citizens and hear the untold stories of the region.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
What will it be like for you guys kind of coming back
, like I said, being on yourhome turf?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Well, it's just exciting to be able to see and
perform for people like in mycommunity.
People I know, people I love.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
I'm excited to to like, just like, connect these
two like parts of my life.
Speaker 4 (00:16):
Where do you find a family of communities connected
by the storied Mississippi River, where young explorers and
dreamers, investors andentrepreneurs thrive?
Where can you connect with realpeople living and creating in a
place that's as genuine as itis quirky QC?
That's where.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Welcome to QC.
That's where I'm Katrina, yourhost, and today I've got Jack
Snyder and Anna Poole, twomembers of the marching band at
University of Illinois.
How are you guys doing today?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Good.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Thank you guys for joining me.
So if you're listening in realtime, we're a couple days away
from the Labor Day parade inRock Island.
It's the 40th year bigmilestone year for our community
having this parade and you guysare kind of coming back to your
home turf, both from Geneseo.
So, Jack, I'll throw it to youfirst.
(01:13):
What is your instrument andlike what sent you to be part of
the Illini Marching Band?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
I play the.
I play the sousaphone in theband, which is basically a
marching tuba, and what wantedme to join the band is my
freshman year of high school.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I really enjoyed marching and I just wanted to
continue to do that for as longas I could.
Anna same question.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Instrument.
What drew you to Illini Band?
I've had a pretty long historyas far as my family in the
Marching Illini.
I play the trumpet.
A few of my older cousins whoalso grew up in Geneseo were
there in the band, and then myolder sister, who's only two
years older than me, also playedin the band.
So I was like, okay, this issomething I really want to do.
(02:02):
So it's just something I'vereally wanted to do since I was
really in middle school, beforeI even like started like high
school marching band and then Ireally enjoyed high school
marching band.
So I was like, okay, yeah, thisis for me.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Did either of you dabble in any other instruments,
like along the way I?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
started playing the piano in first grade and then
ended up stopped playing pianoonce I started playing the tuba.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
That's cool.
Yeah, that's kind of where Istarted, but that's also where I
stopped.
So kudos to you guys for likemaking this kind of like a, you
know, college career pathendeavor so super exciting.
It's exciting for us that sucha big marching band, like staple
piece of the state, is comingto be part of it.
So I was wondering, can youguys kind of talk to any preps,
any you know?
What does it take to you know,to take Marching Illini to you
(02:54):
know a different location?
So, anna, if you want to start,if there's any insight on, just
kind of give us the background.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
So I think we'll be traveling by bus and we usually
take, so the band is like 400,400, some people large, um, so
we, I think, take at least fouror maybe like four to six.
I honestly don't reallyremember how many charter buses
we take, um, but that'llprobably be our mode of travel
this weekend or on Monday, andwe haven't gotten our itinerary
(03:25):
yet, but our professor,professor Hauser, always sends
out our itineraries for anytraveling that we'll be doing.
Yeah, and it's part ofsomething like normal that we do
for game days, like doing likea parade, so we call it March
Out, where we just march fromthe armory on campus to Memorial
Stadium.
(03:45):
So, yeah, I really enjoyparades, so I think it'll be.
I think it'll be fun.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Jack, can you kind of speak to like the differences
between, you know, being in ahigh school marching band versus
what you guys experience at thecollege level?
Speaker 2 (04:01):
It's definitely more work.
Well, I guess, depending on theprogram, it's a lot more work,
but it's really cool just beingable to play with the bands four
times bigger than what I playedin high school.
So just hearing all that hugewall of sound that we can create
, that's really cool.
And then also being able toplay for a audience that is what
(04:27):
like 60 times bigger than whatI could even imagine in high
school it's just an amazingexperience to have.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
When you guys do parades, what kind of you know
reception do you feel?
Like you know, is theexcitement up?
Is it different from, like youknow, game days?
What's kind of the vibe atparades?
Speaker 3 (05:00):
because, like we're marching, like really close to a
lot of people like that walkalong with the bands.
Like when my family comes tovisit, like they'll find me like
in the parade block and they'llwalk along with me.
So it's really really greatenergy.
We have a lot of like vocalsand like movements that we do
besides like playing during theparade, so it's just a fun time
to connect with like the peoplein the ensemble, but then also
like the people who are walkingalong with the band.
It's just a fun time to connectwith like the people in the
ensemble, but then also like thepeople who are walking along
(05:20):
with the band.
It's just really great funenergy.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
What will it be like for you guys kind of coming back
, like I said, being on yourhome turf?
Speaker 2 (05:30):
It's just exciting to be able to see and perform for
people like in my community.
People I know, people I love.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
I think it'll definitely feel a little bit, a
little bit weird, um, but I'mexcited to to like, just like
connect these two like parts ofmy life, um, and just like show
something to my uh home area,like, uh, what I've been doing
in college so yeah well, we'reso excited to have you guys.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
I I know that, like I said, this is such a big deal
for this particular event havingyou all, and we're excited to
welcome you guys, especially thenatives.
Quad City natives and I wasdriving down 18th Avenue
recently in Rock Island and Isaw there's a big banner already
in the middle of the streetpromoting the parade coming.
So it's going to be a big dealand I think everybody that comes
(06:17):
and watches is going to bereally excited.
Super cool element to add thisyear.
So, parade aside, all of thatkind of aside, can you guys
highlight I'll start with you,jack what's been kind of like a
highlight favorite moment youknow, in your two years so far
being part of Marching Illini?
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Honestly, my favorite moment was last year.
Like every year we do aperformance where we go to a
more local community that's notin Champaign to perform, and
last year we went to WashingtonHigh School down in Peoria area
and it was just really cool tobe able to see a literal packed
house of their stadium full ofpeople that are just there to
(06:58):
hear the band.
And that's probably one of myfavorite parts is being able to
play for the communities andeveryone's there just to see you
.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Anna, this is your senior year, so you're going
into your final year withMarching Illini.
What has been a favorite momentfor you so far?
Because you've got a whole.
You know you got extra, extratime, but what?
What has been like a pluck outmoment.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Um, it's honestly really hard to decide Cause,
like you said, like there's somany moments that I could
highlight.
Um, something that I wouldreally like never forget and
never forget the feeling was thefirst time we actually um like
did our pregame show, like uh,for an audience, like at the
first game my freshman year.
Um, like, the energy in thestadium is just electric.
(07:47):
Like when we do um our run onand then uh do our um 15 minute
pregame show, it's just um aslike challenging as it is like
physically, you know, to likehold the horn up and stuff like
that.
Um it it's just such a funthing performing for that many
people with like all the lights,all the sounds.
Uh, it's just really, reallyexciting.
(08:09):
It's an exciting thing.
So yeah, Okay.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
So imagine the freshmen at Geneseo high school
who's just starting, you know,kind of coming up in band.
What's your advice to them?
You know, if they want to makethis kind of a long term
commitment, what would you sayto that person?
Speaker 3 (08:26):
I would tell them to go for it and get involved in
the marching band in any waythat they possibly can.
I know I tried to be a sectionleader as soon as I could when I
was in high school.
That was a really, really greatexperience, like being in a
leadership position, and it justmade me love the activity even
(08:47):
more because I could see likehow much of an impact I could
have like on the band and alsomake a lot of friends.
I know all my closest friendsin high school.
I made um through marching bandsand that's also true here,
especially with our pre-seasoncamp that we do, which, as an
incoming freshman, like youcan't really do all the normal
(09:08):
freshman activities.
So then you kind of just likeintermingle with all the band
people and then you make yourfriends through bands and having
rehearsal an hour and a halfevery day, like you see them
every day.
So it's just um a really,really awesome place to make
friends.
So so, yeah, get involved um,go for leadership positions if
you can and make friends jack,how about you I?
Speaker 2 (09:31):
would say just make sure you keep having fun in the
activity.
If you enjoy doing it, you'll.
You'll just want to keep doingit as long as you can.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
I, uh, I was in band um a couple of years in middle
school and I just could neverlike find my instrument, you
know, and so I ended up kind ofnot continuing with it.
But I just always thought likelike such kudos to um my
classmates that were in band andin marching band, because I
know the time commitment that ittook, but also like just that
raw talent that comes out andlike grows, you know, as the
years go on and and you guyswere literally like the
heartbeat of every event that wehad, you know, every pep rally,
(10:06):
every, every game, everysporting event.
So just like huge props to youguys for making this part of
your you know school years andcontinuing on with it, cause I
know what a huge, like I said,time commitment and just how
much you put your own heart andsoul into this, so way to go,
and thank you for doing it.
(10:28):
So at Visit Quad Cities we liketo say that the Quad Cities is
the creative capital of theMidwest and I would love your
perspective on this statement.
We can back that up with a lotof kind of the arts and culture
scene.
There's, you know, growingevents like Alternating Currents
around here.
We've got the Figge Art Museum,circa 21, and then other like
(10:49):
Playhouse Theaters and the QuadCity Symphony Orchestra.
So I mean, just from yourperspective, would you agree
that that statement, you know,quad City's creative capital of
the Midwest kind of rings true,jack, would you agree that that
statement Quad Cities CreativeCapital of the Midwest?
Speaker 2 (11:03):
no-transcript.
Yeah, I would say so.
I mean looking at some of themarching bands that we see
whenever we competed as highschoolers, just seeing how
talented everyone was was reallycool and like hearing the
history of music in the QuadCities.
Like I know, jazz like kind oflike started forming the Quad
Cities as well as it being oneof the huge Mississippi towns.
(11:25):
Just knowing that history ofmusic that we've had in this
community really just speaks tohow, how great the fine arts are
in the Quad Cities.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Yeah, I really agree with everything Jack said.
I remember, like when I wasyounger, like in elementary
school, we'd always take tripsto the Fig Art Museum.
That was always one of myfavorite things that I did when
I was younger, and I've alsogone to Circa 21 with my parents
multiple times and it's just areally great experience to do,
like over holiday or likewhenever I'm visiting.
And yeah, like what Jack said,I always really enjoy the
(12:02):
marching band competitions.
When I was in high school, it'sprobably one of my favorite
things like weekend activitiesthat I looked forward to in high
school.
Um, yeah, I I definitely agreewith that statement for sure
yeah, and there's.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
It seems like, you know, there's so many kind of
arts and culture experiencesthat are like kind of um legacy
and then also new ones poppingup all the time like, um, I
don't know if you guys have everbeen to the Genesis Guild in in
Rock Island, but they play.
They're like a youShakespearean not playhouse
because they're outside, butthey are, you know, a group of
(12:35):
theatrical actors and they kindof put on shows.
I believe they're free but yeah, just throughout the summer
months in Rock Island and that'sa super cool experience.
And then just the like livemusic popping up.
It just seems like there's somany really talented
singer-songwriters, bands thatplay around here and it's just
so cool because a lot of thethings that go on in the Quad
(12:57):
Cities are free or low cost andjust kind of speaks to a whole
group of people.
Whether you like rock music orkind of more mellow stuff, or if
you're into, like you know,marching band or orchestra, it's
like it seems like there'ssomething for everybody here.
And then to hear yourexperience too with, like you
know, the, the jazz coming uparound here and obviously that
(13:20):
that's one of those more legacypieces with, like Biederbeck and
the jazz festival.
So, yeah, that's just that'ssomething that we really like
hold on to, and people like youguys, who continue to make music
like part of your life, reallyjust adds to that ambience.
So is there anything else thatyou guys are kind of looking
(13:42):
forward to in this 2024, 2025school year?
Speaker 3 (13:48):
There are a lot of things I'm looking forward to.
As you said, like, this is mysenior year and as a music
student, I'm a music educationmajor, so I'm really immersed in
music every single day.
I'm excited for my lastensemble concerts this semester.
I'm playing in the Universityof Illinois Wind Orchestra and
(14:08):
the Concert Jazz Band, so I'mreally excited to see where
those take me this semester, aswell as the Marching Illini, and
we're hoping for maybe sometraveling at the end, some bowl
traveling.
I don't know, we'll see how itgoes.
It's game one, so let's go yeah, but yeah this semester.
(14:29):
I'm definitely really excitedto see how things wrap up for me
, jack what will be on yourhighlight reel this year.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
I'm excited to grow closer to with all my friends in
the band, grow closer to thatcommunity and also trying to
make sure I make it to more ofthe music events that are around
campus, because there's so many.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
I miss on way too many last year that are around
campus, because there's so manyand I missed on way too many
last year.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Oh, okay, yeah, Is it like student stuff or is it
stuff that the school brings infor you guys?
Honestly, a mix of both,because I mean Anna said she was
in the Wind Symphony, I believe.
So being able to hear those andall the other concert bands
that we have and all the choirsthat we have, all the orchestras
we have I think there's somegood jazz scene here that I
could go listen to and then also, every once in a while, the
school will bring in like a big,big, like headline concert that
(15:17):
we could go see as well.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
That's awesome, very cool.
So we will start to wrap upthis podcast.
I've got just a few kind ofrapid fire questions for each of
you guys.
So, jack, I'll start with you.
So, on a summer day in the QuadCities area, what is one or two
things you like to do?
Speaker 2 (15:39):
One of my favorite things to do this past summer
was to kayak down the HennepinCanal now?
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Awesome, anna, I'll throw it to you.
Something I really enjoyed inhigh school was going to the
mall, like South Park or NorthPark Mall, or, like Jack said,
I'm really close to the HennepinCanal, like my house, so, yeah,
those trails are also reallynice to do, so yeah, yeah, those
trails are also really nice todo so yeah, I have to get down
there and do that.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
That sounds so fun.
Okay, Anna, um must mustexperience Quad City food item.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Oh, geez, okay, Um, I gotta think about this one.
Um, I don't know.
Know, whenever I talk to myfriends um who like around here
that um aren't from like themidwest, I always ask, like,
(16:38):
have you ever heard of whitey'sice cream?
And, uh, I gotta think of myfavorite flavor.
I really like the think it'scalled.
My mom just bought it for mewhen I was at home before the
semester started Graham CentralStation, that's what it's called
.
The Graham Central Station icecream from Whitey's.
That's the most delicious thingever.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
I agree.
Okay, Jack, what's yours?
Speaker 2 (17:04):
I mean, you can never go wrong with Whitey's.
But also I just didn't realizethis until I think monday, like
no one from school has everheard what a pork burger is.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
I love myself good pork burger where do you get a
good pork burger around here?
Speaker 2 (17:20):
I don't know if I do I don't know where you can buy
one, but my mom would alwaysmake them and they're so good
okay, it's funny.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Um, like, I'm originally from michigan and
there's a thing oh my gosh, I'mgonna from Michigan and there's
a thing oh my gosh, I'm going toforget the name.
There's a thing around herethat comes a lot of times, is
like a side or like an appetizer, and it's like a corn, like a
deep fried corn, something Areyou familiar with.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
I think I've heard of that.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
Quad Cities thing, but like I don't know, maybe it
is, maybe it's not, maybe it'srandom Pickle wraps, I think,
are a Quad Cities thing and then, like Quad City style pizza, I
have to say that's probably mynumber one.
Okay, and then what is anexperience in the Quad Cities
since you've been away at schoolthat like you miss most of all?
Or like maybe something thatyou haven't gotten to do yet?
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Something for me that I kind of miss, especially over
the summers I haven't been homelike the past three summers but
is the Maple City Band andGenesis Community Choir Doing
those things are both likereally just super fun things
because I get to like socializewith the people from the
community that like I had nevermet before but like they're
(18:35):
really good musicians the peoplefrom the community that like I
had never met before but likethey're really good musicians
and yeah.
So those are like twoactivities that I really really
miss and I'm excited to get backto, hopefully maybe this summer
, depending on where life takesme.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
So yeah, Jack, how about you?
Speaker 2 (18:51):
I miss the more rural small town feel that I can get
at home, the more slowerlifestyle that I can have and
not all the big hustle andbustle that they have here.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Yeah, that makes sense, and that's something
about the Quad Cities, too, thatI've noticed.
It's like you can have thatlike small town feel with big
city amenities, like, even ifyou live in kind of one of the
outskirt communities or villages, like you're literally 20
minutes from, like you know, abigger city, if you will.
So I think that's one reallycool thing, that, like Quad
(19:19):
citizens can tout about the area.
Okay, so last question, annawhat are you studying and what
are your plans after yougraduate?
Speaker 3 (19:30):
So, like I mentioned earlier, I am a music education
major, so this is my lastsemester on campus and then I'm
going to go student teach nextsemester and then I'll graduate,
and I think what my plans areis to find a job for like a year
or so.
I want to hopefully go back andget my master's pretty soon
(19:50):
after I graduate, but I alsowant to get that teaching
experience to see how it goesand how I like it.
Yeah, so that's my plans as ofnow.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Awesome.
Well, good luck to you.
That's super exciting.
It's nice to kind of have aplan for when graduation does
come.
So it sounds like you've gotsome kind of track to follow.
So that'll be super exciting.
And, jack, what is your majorand where do you think you'll
end up after graduation?
Speaker 2 (20:19):
So I'm a financial planning major.
I'm thinking about adding anaccounting major onto that as
well, and my long-term plan isto hopefully come back to the
Quad Cities and start my ownbusiness as a financial planning
tax firm.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Amazing, that's awesome.
That is such a good goal and welove to have people come back
here after graduation theboomerang effect, if you will.
So all right, well, we willwrap this up.
I have one final question foryou guys the tradition on this
podcast to fill in the blank QC.
That's where Jack would youlike to start first.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Quad Cities.
That's where home is.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Perfect Anna.
What's yours?
Speaker 3 (21:00):
The Quad Cities.
That's where my musical journeystarted.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Love it.
So Marching Illini are going tobe in Rock Island on September
2nd, Labor Day 2024.
So don't miss it.
Come see Anna and Jack play andsupport and celebrate with us.
So thank you guys so much and Iwill let you get on with your
day.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Thanks for listening to QC.
That's where a podcast poweredby visit quad cities text visit
QC to three, eight, three, one,four for insider events,
activities and updates sentstraight to your phone.
That's V, ii-s-i-t-q-c, oneword to 38314.
(21:41):
Message and data rates mayapply.
What will it be like for you guys kind of coming back
, like I said, being on yourhome turf?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Well, it's just exciting to be able to see and
perform for people like in mycommunity.
People I know, people I love.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
I'm excited to to like, just like, connect these
two like parts of my life.
Speaker 4 (00:16):
Where do you find a family of communities connected
by the storied Mississippi River, where young explorers and
dreamers, investors andentrepreneurs thrive?
Where can you connect with realpeople living and creating in a
place that's as genuine as itis quirky QC?
That's where.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Welcome to QC.
That's where I'm Katrina, yourhost, and today I've got Jack
Snyder and Anna Poole, twomembers of the marching band at
University of Illinois.
How are you guys doing today?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Good.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Thank you guys for joining me.
So if you're listening in realtime, we're a couple days away
from the Labor Day parade inRock Island.
It's the 40th year bigmilestone year for our community
having this parade and you guysare kind of coming back to your
home turf, both from Geneseo.
So, Jack, I'll throw it to youfirst.
(01:13):
What is your instrument andlike what sent you to be part of
the Illini Marching Band?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
I play the.
I play the sousaphone in theband, which is basically a
marching tuba, and what wantedme to join the band is my
freshman year of high school.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I really enjoyed marching and I just wanted to
continue to do that for as longas I could.
Anna same question.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Instrument.
What drew you to Illini Band?
I've had a pretty long historyas far as my family in the
Marching Illini.
I play the trumpet.
A few of my older cousins whoalso grew up in Geneseo were
there in the band, and then myolder sister, who's only two
years older than me, also playedin the band.
So I was like, okay, this issomething I really want to do.
(02:02):
So it's just something I'vereally wanted to do since I was
really in middle school, beforeI even like started like high
school marching band and then Ireally enjoyed high school
marching band.
So I was like, okay, yeah, thisis for me.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Did either of you dabble in any other instruments,
like along the way I?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
started playing the piano in first grade and then
ended up stopped playing pianoonce I started playing the tuba.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
That's cool.
Yeah, that's kind of where Istarted, but that's also where I
stopped.
So kudos to you guys for likemaking this kind of like a, you
know, college career pathendeavor so super exciting.
It's exciting for us that sucha big marching band, like staple
piece of the state, is comingto be part of it.
So I was wondering, can youguys kind of talk to any preps,
any you know?
What does it take to you know,to take Marching Illini to you
(02:54):
know a different location?
So, anna, if you want to start,if there's any insight on, just
kind of give us the background.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
So I think we'll be traveling by bus and we usually
take, so the band is like 400,400, some people large, um, so
we, I think, take at least fouror maybe like four to six.
I honestly don't reallyremember how many charter buses
we take, um, but that'llprobably be our mode of travel
this weekend or on Monday, andwe haven't gotten our itinerary
(03:25):
yet, but our professor,professor Hauser, always sends
out our itineraries for anytraveling that we'll be doing.
Yeah, and it's part ofsomething like normal that we do
for game days, like doing likea parade, so we call it March
Out, where we just march fromthe armory on campus to Memorial
Stadium.
(03:45):
So, yeah, I really enjoyparades, so I think it'll be.
I think it'll be fun.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Jack, can you kind of speak to like the differences
between, you know, being in ahigh school marching band versus
what you guys experience at thecollege level?
Speaker 2 (04:01):
It's definitely more work.
Well, I guess, depending on theprogram, it's a lot more work,
but it's really cool just beingable to play with the bands four
times bigger than what I playedin high school.
So just hearing all that hugewall of sound that we can create
, that's really cool.
And then also being able toplay for a audience that is what
(04:27):
like 60 times bigger than whatI could even imagine in high
school it's just an amazingexperience to have.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
When you guys do parades, what kind of you know
reception do you feel?
Like you know, is theexcitement up?
Is it different from, like youknow, game days?
What's kind of the vibe atparades?
Speaker 3 (05:00):
because, like we're marching, like really close to a
lot of people like that walkalong with the bands.
Like when my family comes tovisit, like they'll find me like
in the parade block and they'llwalk along with me.
So it's really really greatenergy.
We have a lot of like vocalsand like movements that we do
besides like playing during theparade, so it's just a fun time
to connect with like the peoplein the ensemble, but then also
like the people who are walkingalong with the band.
It's just a fun time to connectwith like the people in the
ensemble, but then also like thepeople who are walking along
(05:20):
with the band.
It's just really great funenergy.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
What will it be like for you guys kind of coming back
, like I said, being on yourhome turf?
Speaker 2 (05:30):
It's just exciting to be able to see and perform for
people like in my community.
People I know, people I love.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
I think it'll definitely feel a little bit, a
little bit weird, um, but I'mexcited to to like, just like
connect these two like parts ofmy life, um, and just like show
something to my uh home area,like, uh, what I've been doing
in college so yeah well, we'reso excited to have you guys.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
I I know that, like I said, this is such a big deal
for this particular event havingyou all, and we're excited to
welcome you guys, especially thenatives.
Quad City natives and I wasdriving down 18th Avenue
recently in Rock Island and Isaw there's a big banner already
in the middle of the streetpromoting the parade coming.
So it's going to be a big dealand I think everybody that comes
(06:17):
and watches is going to bereally excited.
Super cool element to add thisyear.
So, parade aside, all of thatkind of aside, can you guys
highlight I'll start with you,jack what's been kind of like a
highlight favorite moment youknow, in your two years so far
being part of Marching Illini?
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Honestly, my favorite moment was last year.
Like every year we do aperformance where we go to a
more local community that's notin Champaign to perform, and
last year we went to WashingtonHigh School down in Peoria area
and it was just really cool tobe able to see a literal packed
house of their stadium full ofpeople that are just there to
(06:58):
hear the band.
And that's probably one of myfavorite parts is being able to
play for the communities andeveryone's there just to see you
.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Anna, this is your senior year, so you're going
into your final year withMarching Illini.
What has been a favorite momentfor you so far?
Because you've got a whole.
You know you got extra, extratime, but what?
What has been like a pluck outmoment.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Um, it's honestly really hard to decide Cause,
like you said, like there's somany moments that I could
highlight.
Um, something that I wouldreally like never forget and
never forget the feeling was thefirst time we actually um like
did our pregame show, like uh,for an audience, like at the
first game my freshman year.
Um, like, the energy in thestadium is just electric.
(07:47):
Like when we do um our run onand then uh do our um 15 minute
pregame show, it's just um aslike challenging as it is like
physically, you know, to likehold the horn up and stuff like
that.
Um it it's just such a funthing performing for that many
people with like all the lights,all the sounds.
Uh, it's just really, reallyexciting.
(08:09):
It's an exciting thing.
So yeah, Okay.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
So imagine the freshmen at Geneseo high school
who's just starting, you know,kind of coming up in band.
What's your advice to them?
You know, if they want to makethis kind of a long term
commitment, what would you sayto that person?
Speaker 3 (08:26):
I would tell them to go for it and get involved in
the marching band in any waythat they possibly can.
I know I tried to be a sectionleader as soon as I could when I
was in high school.
That was a really, really greatexperience, like being in a
leadership position, and it justmade me love the activity even
(08:47):
more because I could see likehow much of an impact I could
have like on the band and alsomake a lot of friends.
I know all my closest friendsin high school.
I made um through marching bandsand that's also true here,
especially with our pre-seasoncamp that we do, which, as an
incoming freshman, like youcan't really do all the normal
(09:08):
freshman activities.
So then you kind of just likeintermingle with all the band
people and then you make yourfriends through bands and having
rehearsal an hour and a halfevery day, like you see them
every day.
So it's just um a really,really awesome place to make
friends.
So so, yeah, get involved um,go for leadership positions if
you can and make friends jack,how about you I?
Speaker 2 (09:31):
would say just make sure you keep having fun in the
activity.
If you enjoy doing it, you'll.
You'll just want to keep doingit as long as you can.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
I, uh, I was in band um a couple of years in middle
school and I just could neverlike find my instrument, you
know, and so I ended up kind ofnot continuing with it.
But I just always thought likelike such kudos to um my
classmates that were in band andin marching band, because I
know the time commitment that ittook, but also like just that
raw talent that comes out andlike grows, you know, as the
years go on and and you guyswere literally like the
heartbeat of every event that wehad, you know, every pep rally,
(10:06):
every, every game, everysporting event.
So just like huge props to youguys for making this part of
your you know school years andcontinuing on with it, cause I
know what a huge, like I said,time commitment and just how
much you put your own heart andsoul into this, so way to go,
and thank you for doing it.
(10:28):
So at Visit Quad Cities we liketo say that the Quad Cities is
the creative capital of theMidwest and I would love your
perspective on this statement.
We can back that up with a lotof kind of the arts and culture
scene.
There's, you know, growingevents like Alternating Currents
around here.
We've got the Figge Art Museum,circa 21, and then other like
(10:49):
Playhouse Theaters and the QuadCity Symphony Orchestra.
So I mean, just from yourperspective, would you agree
that that statement, you know,quad City's creative capital of
the Midwest kind of rings true,jack, would you agree that that
statement Quad Cities CreativeCapital of the Midwest?
Speaker 2 (11:03):
no-transcript.
Yeah, I would say so.
I mean looking at some of themarching bands that we see
whenever we competed as highschoolers, just seeing how
talented everyone was was reallycool and like hearing the
history of music in the QuadCities.
Like I know, jazz like kind oflike started forming the Quad
Cities as well as it being oneof the huge Mississippi towns.
(11:25):
Just knowing that history ofmusic that we've had in this
community really just speaks tohow, how great the fine arts are
in the Quad Cities.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Yeah, I really agree with everything Jack said.
I remember, like when I wasyounger, like in elementary
school, we'd always take tripsto the Fig Art Museum.
That was always one of myfavorite things that I did when
I was younger, and I've alsogone to Circa 21 with my parents
multiple times and it's just areally great experience to do,
like over holiday or likewhenever I'm visiting.
And yeah, like what Jack said,I always really enjoy the
(12:02):
marching band competitions.
When I was in high school, it'sprobably one of my favorite
things like weekend activitiesthat I looked forward to in high
school.
Um, yeah, I I definitely agreewith that statement for sure
yeah, and there's.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
It seems like, you know, there's so many kind of
arts and culture experiencesthat are like kind of um legacy
and then also new ones poppingup all the time like, um, I
don't know if you guys have everbeen to the Genesis Guild in in
Rock Island, but they play.
They're like a youShakespearean not playhouse
because they're outside, butthey are, you know, a group of
(12:35):
theatrical actors and they kindof put on shows.
I believe they're free but yeah, just throughout the summer
months in Rock Island and that'sa super cool experience.
And then just the like livemusic popping up.
It just seems like there's somany really talented
singer-songwriters, bands thatplay around here and it's just
so cool because a lot of thethings that go on in the Quad
(12:57):
Cities are free or low cost andjust kind of speaks to a whole
group of people.
Whether you like rock music orkind of more mellow stuff, or if
you're into, like you know,marching band or orchestra, it's
like it seems like there'ssomething for everybody here.
And then to hear yourexperience too with, like you
know, the, the jazz coming uparound here and obviously that
(13:20):
that's one of those more legacypieces with, like Biederbeck and
the jazz festival.
So, yeah, that's just that'ssomething that we really like
hold on to, and people like youguys, who continue to make music
like part of your life, reallyjust adds to that ambience.
So is there anything else thatyou guys are kind of looking
(13:42):
forward to in this 2024, 2025school year?
Speaker 3 (13:48):
There are a lot of things I'm looking forward to.
As you said, like, this is mysenior year and as a music
student, I'm a music educationmajor, so I'm really immersed in
music every single day.
I'm excited for my lastensemble concerts this semester.
I'm playing in the Universityof Illinois Wind Orchestra and
(14:08):
the Concert Jazz Band, so I'mreally excited to see where
those take me this semester, aswell as the Marching Illini, and
we're hoping for maybe sometraveling at the end, some bowl
traveling.
I don't know, we'll see how itgoes.
It's game one, so let's go yeah, but yeah this semester.
(14:29):
I'm definitely really excitedto see how things wrap up for me
, jack what will be on yourhighlight reel this year.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
I'm excited to grow closer to with all my friends in
the band, grow closer to thatcommunity and also trying to
make sure I make it to more ofthe music events that are around
campus, because there's so many.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
I miss on way too many last year that are around
campus, because there's so manyand I missed on way too many
last year.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Oh, okay, yeah, Is it like student stuff or is it
stuff that the school brings infor you guys?
Honestly, a mix of both,because I mean Anna said she was
in the Wind Symphony, I believe.
So being able to hear those andall the other concert bands
that we have and all the choirsthat we have, all the orchestras
we have I think there's somegood jazz scene here that I
could go listen to and then also, every once in a while, the
school will bring in like a big,big, like headline concert that
(15:17):
we could go see as well.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
That's awesome, very cool.
So we will start to wrap upthis podcast.
I've got just a few kind ofrapid fire questions for each of
you guys.
So, jack, I'll start with you.
So, on a summer day in the QuadCities area, what is one or two
things you like to do?
Speaker 2 (15:39):
One of my favorite things to do this past summer
was to kayak down the HennepinCanal now?
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Awesome, anna, I'll throw it to you.
Something I really enjoyed inhigh school was going to the
mall, like South Park or NorthPark Mall, or, like Jack said,
I'm really close to the HennepinCanal, like my house, so, yeah,
those trails are also reallynice to do, so yeah, yeah, those
trails are also really nice todo so yeah, I have to get down
there and do that.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
That sounds so fun.
Okay, Anna, um must mustexperience Quad City food item.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Oh, geez, okay, Um, I gotta think about this one.
Um, I don't know.
Know, whenever I talk to myfriends um who like around here
that um aren't from like themidwest, I always ask, like,
(16:38):
have you ever heard of whitey'sice cream?
And, uh, I gotta think of myfavorite flavor.
I really like the think it'scalled.
My mom just bought it for mewhen I was at home before the
semester started Graham CentralStation, that's what it's called
.
The Graham Central Station icecream from Whitey's.
That's the most delicious thingever.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
I agree.
Okay, Jack, what's yours?
Speaker 2 (17:04):
I mean, you can never go wrong with Whitey's.
But also I just didn't realizethis until I think monday, like
no one from school has everheard what a pork burger is.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
I love myself good pork burger where do you get a
good pork burger around here?
Speaker 2 (17:20):
I don't know if I do I don't know where you can buy
one, but my mom would alwaysmake them and they're so good
okay, it's funny.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Um, like, I'm originally from michigan and
there's a thing oh my gosh, I'mgonna from Michigan and there's
a thing oh my gosh, I'm going toforget the name.
There's a thing around herethat comes a lot of times, is
like a side or like an appetizer, and it's like a corn, like a
deep fried corn, something Areyou familiar with.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
I think I've heard of that.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
Quad Cities thing, but like I don't know, maybe it
is, maybe it's not, maybe it'srandom Pickle wraps, I think,
are a Quad Cities thing and then, like Quad City style pizza, I
have to say that's probably mynumber one.
Okay, and then what is anexperience in the Quad Cities
since you've been away at schoolthat like you miss most of all?
Or like maybe something thatyou haven't gotten to do yet?
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Something for me that I kind of miss, especially over
the summers I haven't been homelike the past three summers but
is the Maple City Band andGenesis Community Choir Doing
those things are both likereally just super fun things
because I get to like socializewith the people from the
community that like I had nevermet before but like they're
(18:35):
really good musicians the peoplefrom the community that like I
had never met before but likethey're really good musicians
and yeah.
So those are like twoactivities that I really really
miss and I'm excited to get backto, hopefully maybe this summer
, depending on where life takesme.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
So yeah, Jack, how about you?
Speaker 2 (18:51):
I miss the more rural small town feel that I can get
at home, the more slowerlifestyle that I can have and
not all the big hustle andbustle that they have here.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Yeah, that makes sense, and that's something
about the Quad Cities, too, thatI've noticed.
It's like you can have thatlike small town feel with big
city amenities, like, even ifyou live in kind of one of the
outskirt communities or villages, like you're literally 20
minutes from, like you know, abigger city, if you will.
So I think that's one reallycool thing, that, like Quad
(19:19):
citizens can tout about the area.
Okay, so last question, annawhat are you studying and what
are your plans after yougraduate?
Speaker 3 (19:30):
So, like I mentioned earlier, I am a music education
major, so this is my lastsemester on campus and then I'm
going to go student teach nextsemester and then I'll graduate,
and I think what my plans areis to find a job for like a year
or so.
I want to hopefully go back andget my master's pretty soon
(19:50):
after I graduate, but I alsowant to get that teaching
experience to see how it goesand how I like it.
Yeah, so that's my plans as ofnow.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Awesome.
Well, good luck to you.
That's super exciting.
It's nice to kind of have aplan for when graduation does
come.
So it sounds like you've gotsome kind of track to follow.
So that'll be super exciting.
And, jack, what is your majorand where do you think you'll
end up after graduation?
Speaker 2 (20:19):
So I'm a financial planning major.
I'm thinking about adding anaccounting major onto that as
well, and my long-term plan isto hopefully come back to the
Quad Cities and start my ownbusiness as a financial planning
tax firm.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Amazing, that's awesome.
That is such a good goal and welove to have people come back
here after graduation theboomerang effect, if you will.
So all right, well, we willwrap this up.
I have one final question foryou guys the tradition on this
podcast to fill in the blank QC.
That's where Jack would youlike to start first.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Quad Cities.
That's where home is.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Perfect Anna.
What's yours?
Speaker 3 (21:00):
The Quad Cities.
That's where my musical journeystarted.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Love it.
So Marching Illini are going tobe in Rock Island on September
2nd, Labor Day 2024.
So don't miss it.
Come see Anna and Jack play andsupport and celebrate with us.
So thank you guys so much and Iwill let you get on with your
day.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Thanks for listening to QC.
That's where a podcast poweredby visit quad cities text visit
QC to three, eight, three, one,four for insider events,
activities and updates sentstraight to your phone.
That's V, ii-s-i-t-q-c, oneword to 38314.
(21:41):
Message and data rates mayapply.
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