Founded on October 2, 1874 at the Paxton, Illinois campus, the Augustana Symphonic Band is the oldest musical organization on a campus widely recognized for its rich cultural heritage. The first band consisted of three cornets, two alto horns, two tenor horns, one baritone horn, two bass horns and two drummers. First performances that year included an appearance at an “indignation meeting” and the
spring commencement ceremony. The first formal concert was held on May 14, 1875 in Clark’s Hall in Paxton. The group began its tradition of appearing at building dedications on October 14, 1875, when the first Augustana College building was dedicated in Rock Island. In 1883, the group also took part in the dedication of Old Main, now the oldest building on campus. In the spring of that year, the band took its first concert tour, traveling to central Iowa. Since that time, the Augustana Symphonic Band has toured annually. During World War I, members of the band enlisted as a unit in the service of their country. During that time, they not only saw action but also gave a concert tour after the Armistice was signed. In 1928, the Band became one of the first American collegiate bands to tour in Europe. Since its inception, the Augustana Symphonic Band and its program have grown to include a second band and numerous performances around the world. Tours have taken the band into 29 states for appearances in settings including Orchestra Hall in Chicago; Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C; Town Hall in New York City; Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, Nebraska; Crouse Auditorium on the Syracuse University Campus; the Ford Theatre of the Honeywell Center; and numerous high schools, churches and community centers. In addition to the recent dedications of the remodeled music facilities, the Thomas Tredway Library, the Hanson Hall of Science, and the Olin Center, the band has toured to England and Scotland three times and in 2011 mounted its first-ever tour of Italy. In 2014, the Augustana Symphonic Band embarked upon its very first tour of Japan. 2015 marked the first tour of Texas, and 2017 takes the band to Spain for the first time.
