Luke Taylor: Marching Knights bring new look to Memorial Stadium

Sep. 23—Welcome to "Illini Insider," your regular dose of University of Illinois news from beat writer Luke Taylor. Fresh out of college himself, he's always looking for story tips, photo ideas and social media mentions. Email him at [email protected] and he'll give chase.

Many of the high school bands coming to Band Day with the Marching Illini will be performing in front of a large audience for the first time.

The Richwoods Marching Knights of Peoria will get to do so in brand new uniforms.

New equipment doesn't happen for the band too often, according to director Chris Render, but he said that a pattern of neglect for the arts at Richwoods is coming to an end.

"I'm not placing any blame," Render said. "But we're on a path to get that changed now."

The band managed to win some grants not only for new uniforms, but for other equipment that had gone by the wayside.

He said that change would take time as the school district addresses a variety of economic levels for students, but he's looking to the future.

"I'm starting to see a glimmer of hope and change for the better for all of our students because they deserve the chance to see and be a part of music at all levels," Render said.

This will be the band's first time at Memorial Stadium, at least since Render started at Richwoods six years ago.

He's looking forward to getting them on a college campus and showing them what band can be after high school.

The band isn't very large with only 48 members, and Render said they'll be shocked at the size of the crowds, but that's okay.

"Nervousness comes because of a desire to be successful," Render said. "In the end, it's about band stuff and my students trust me to know that I'm going to put them in an environment where they can be successful."

Marching Illini director Barry Houser was actually the one to recommend the Marching Knights as a band to look out for, and Render wasn't surprised.

The two have known each other for a long time and he trusts Houser to make sure all the bands involved have a good time.

"Houser for president, that's what I say," Render said.