Members of the Carolina Basketball Band are made up of a pool of musicians who perform for all men’s and women’s home basketball games in Colonial Life Arena and are an integral part of the in-game atmosphere.
Membership in the band is open to all students regardless of major or classification. Members are selected by audition, receive a stipend for participation, and rotate playing for assigned events throughout the season. You do not need to be a member of the marching band to participate.
Instrumentation includes piccolos, clarinets, alto and tenor saxophones, trumpets, mellophones, trombones, baritones, sousaphones, bass guitar and drum set (players should be proficient in various rock, swing and Latin styles). Instruments can be provided for brass players, and drummers needn’t have their own drum set.
The Carolina Basketball Bands are directed by Jay Jacobs and Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin. E-mail Dr. Jacobs with any questions regarding the audition process and schedule.
2019 Auditions
Basketball Band auditions for piccolos, clarinets, saxophones and mellophones are
Monday, September 23 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Copenhaver Band Hall located at 326 Sumter Street. Auditions
for trumpets, trombones, baritones and tubas are Tuesday, September 24 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. also at the Copenhaver Band Hall.
On Thursday, September 26 from 7:00–9:00 p.m., there is a rehearsal for all members, and at that time drummers
and bass guitars will audition. Bass guitars should plan to audition: 1) on tuba parts
for the traditional school songs, which are available at the link below, b) on improvised
fills/riffs played with the drummers (used to fill time at games), and c) on other
pieces rehearsed. Additional rehearsals will be: Thursday, October 3 from 7:00–9:00 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena / Thursday, October 17 from 7:00-9:00 P.M. at the band hall / Thursday, October 24 from 7:00–9:00 p.m. at
the band hall.