Jefferson's band traveled to DeKalb this afternoon to join 20 other schools at the Northern Illinois football game. They had the chance to play for a crowd of 18,688 people who were not scared off by the unseasonably warm temperatures.
Forty J-Hawk band members made the trip with Band Director Benjamin Randecker, marking the fourth time the group has participated. They played three songs on the field with around 900 other band students: "Born to Be Wild," "Dream On," and "September."
The students had a tremendous time despite the heat. "It was an amazing experience," said junior Abi Reyes. "There were some lows when it was hot, and there were some highs when we made the crowd go wild with our songs. In the end, it was one of the best memories I will never forget, and I will cherish every single moment of it always."
While it could be intimidating to play for so many people, the preparation the band did ahead of time made it possible.
"The band put in a lot of effort into making the best sound we could," said senior Naomi Cultra. "Many were very enthusiastic about being on the field and performing. Hearing the sound of that many musicians on the field was amazing. I loved making memories with the band."
Senior Noemi Sena will miss this experience next year. "Overall, it's a nice memory to have," said Sena. "To hang out with friends and really enjoy the whole experience of playing at the NIU stadium for the last time."
The NIU band also performed, and the high school students took notice. Sophomore Sereniti Troia said, "It was amazing hearing the NIU band and watching them do their own thing on the field."
The experience was fun, but it wasn't easy, especially with the weather. "There were many things that made it not as fun, like the sun and your legs hurting," said freshman Brandon Ruiz. "Other than that, overall it was pretty exciting. We got to see new people in a different environment, and we all had fun with our friends. We grew together as a band, and it was pretty cool playing at the NIU stadium."
You can catch Jefferson band’s next performance on Sunday, October 6, at the Oregon Halloween Parade and again at the Homecoming football game on Friday, October 11, against Belvidere.