The University of Texas Longhorn Pep Band is an integral component of the game day experience, performing at all Men’s and Women’s Basketball and Texas Volleyball home events, as well as the SEC and NCAA tournaments.
The Longhorn Pep Band is composed of highly spirited and talented musicians from across the University, and plays a wide range of repertoire including pop, funk, hip hop, rock, and traditional music, with the purpose of providing entertainment and creating crowd enthusiasm for UT’s teams. The band has made special appearances at the Austin City Limits festival, and with renowned musical acts such as The Peterson Brothers, Van Wilks, The Nightowls, and many others.
Directors:
Dr. Marc Sosnowchik – msosnowchik@utexas.edu
Dr. Mike Lebrias – mlebrias@utexas.edu
Teaching Assistants:
How to Join the Longhorn Pep Band
Audition videos due no later than August 23 by 11:59pm (see item 3 below)
In order to become a member of LPB, students must successfully audition, register for the course, and acknowledge they will be available for post-season travel (see “Post-Season Tournament Travel Dates” listed below). Note that we provide documentation for course instructors to excuse days missed as well as a number of accommodations during travel including test proctoring and time to complete school work. LPB members receive a service award for their membership during the semester and per diem for travel. Note that the service award amount depends on the number of students enrolled in the course.
Audition requirements:
- Register for your desired Pep Band course during the appropriate semester (see “Course Enrollment Information” below). If you audition successfully, you will remain in the course. If you do not audition successfully, you will need to drop the course. You will find two courses, one that meets Tuesdays and one that meets Wednesdays. You only need to register for and attend one of these, not both.
- Record your audition video. Note that you must turn-in a newly-created video for each semester you audition. You may not submit an old video. Please be sure your video link is shareable. Your face, fingers, valves, keys, or slides must be visible at all times and all elements must be done in one continuous, unedited take.
- Woodwinds and Brass: Prepare a technical etude and full-range chromatic scale for rating. In lieu of a technical etude, you may submit a recording of the full version of Texas Fight.
- Synthesizer or Bass Guitar: Prepare and perform the Texas Fight Tuba Part. If possible, please also include a musical excerpt of your choosing which showcases both hands performing.
- Drum Set: Prepare four different styles of music to be recorded and submitted. *Styles to be performed are: fast rock, slow rock, swing, funk and in approximately 30 seconds should showcase at least two fills per style.
- Bass Drum: Bass drum will be played by a drum set player when they are not performing on drum set. Anybody interested in playing bass drum must submit the drum set audition outlined above.
- Auxiliary Percussion: We are adding auxiliary percussion this coming season. Instruments may include, but not limited to, tambourine, shaker, cowbell, agogo bells, etc. For your audition video, record yourself with the tunes listed below playing aloud, and demonstrate appropriate style, tempo, and improvisation on MULTIPLE auxiliary instruments.
- Submit your video audition link here and complete the accompanying form no later than August 23 by 11:59 pm. Students will be notified of their audition status before the first day of classes.
Course Enrollment Information
Rehearsals take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Only one rehearsal per week is required to earn credit (1 hour).
| FALL Tue 3:30-5:00 – ENS 108P Wed 4:00-5:30 – ENS 108P |
SPRING Tuesdays 3:30-5:00 – ENS 108P Wednesdays 5:30-6:45 – ENS 108P |
Rehearsal Room: MRH 2.114 (Band Hall)
Fall 2024 Post-Season Tournament Travel Dates
| Volleyball NCAA Round 1 & 2 |
December 3-7 – Campus Sites TBD |
| Volleyball NCAA Sweet 16 & Elite 8 |
December 10-15 – Campus Sites TBD |
| Volleyball NCAA Final Four |
December 17-22 – Louisville, KY |
