Pre-registration for the 2026 Cardinal Marching Band opens Monday, December 15th, 2025
The CARDINAL MARCHING BAND celebrates over 100 years of music and excitement, representing Otterbein University on and off campus. Comprised of students coming from nearly every major on campus, this ensemble has performed for campus athletic events, NFL football games, alumni and trustee events for Otterbein Presidents, tailgate parties for Ohio Governors and US Presidential candidates, Westerville block parties, and Honor Flights departing from John Glenn Columbus International Airport.
The band's style has been described as a balance between corps-inspired marching and crowd-friendly music selections.
Take a listen!
The CARDINAL MARCHING BAND celebrates over 100 years of music and excitement, representing Otterbein University on and off campus. Comprised of students coming from nearly every major on campus, this ensemble has performed for campus athletic events, NFL football games, alumni and trustee events for Otterbein Presidents, tailgate parties for Ohio Governors and US Presidential candidates, Westerville block parties, and Honor Flights departing from John Glenn Columbus International Airport.
The band's style has been described as a balance between corps-inspired marching and crowd-friendly music selections.
Take a listen!
Students enrolling in Marching Band should register for MUSC 4103.
To Join Cardinal Marching Band:
Auditions are done virtually, via a form made available in late winter or early spring. All interested students must audition, but auditions are for placement purposes only. Instrumentalists who attend an in-person audition through the Music Department do not need to audition again virtually.
Winds and Percussion: New members must audition for the Cardinal Marching Band by submitting a simple solo audio or video recording of you playing your high school's fight song and alma mater.
Guard: To audition for guard, we would like to see the following skills, to the best of your ability. If you don't know a skill or do not want to attempt it, just say so in the video. We are happy to work with you to develop new skills:
Drop spins (right and left), Cones (over and under), Pole hits (right and left), Flourishes, Pop toss, Flat toss, J toss, 45 toss, Cross toss, Strip toss, Circle/crank toss
Twirlers: All interested twirlers must audition in person. Reach out to Twirler Instructor Lynnea Johnson for more information.
Athletic Band Participation Awards:
Any incoming or current Otterbein student who performs on a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument and/or who is a visual performer, including color guard and twirling, is eligible to audition for the Otterbein Athletic Bands. Students choosing to commit to the Otterbein Athletic Bands receive a $1,000 award, renewable for up to four years. Your Cardinal Marching Band Registration Audition will act as your audition for the Athletic Band Participation Awards. Be sure to indicate your interest on the registration form and check your financial aid package for confirmation.
Auditions are done virtually, via a form made available in late winter or early spring. All interested students must audition, but auditions are for placement purposes only. Instrumentalists who attend an in-person audition through the Music Department do not need to audition again virtually.
Winds and Percussion: New members must audition for the Cardinal Marching Band by submitting a simple solo audio or video recording of you playing your high school's fight song and alma mater.
Guard: To audition for guard, we would like to see the following skills, to the best of your ability. If you don't know a skill or do not want to attempt it, just say so in the video. We are happy to work with you to develop new skills:
Drop spins (right and left), Cones (over and under), Pole hits (right and left), Flourishes, Pop toss, Flat toss, J toss, 45 toss, Cross toss, Strip toss, Circle/crank toss
Twirlers: All interested twirlers must audition in person. Reach out to Twirler Instructor Lynnea Johnson for more information.
Athletic Band Participation Awards:
Any incoming or current Otterbein student who performs on a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument and/or who is a visual performer, including color guard and twirling, is eligible to audition for the Otterbein Athletic Bands. Students choosing to commit to the Otterbein Athletic Bands receive a $1,000 award, renewable for up to four years. Your Cardinal Marching Band Registration Audition will act as your audition for the Athletic Band Participation Awards. Be sure to indicate your interest on the registration form and check your financial aid package for confirmation.
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Field Battery
Please email our marching percussion instructor, Lovell Tufts, with any questions about requirements or expectations. ** please print out the warmups and bring them with you to registration 
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Twirler Info
Please email our twirler coach, Lynnea Johnson, with any questions about requirements or expectations. |
Color Guard Info
Please email our guard coach, Cori Hughes, with any questions about requirements or expectations. | ||
The Band Fee:
Every member of the Cardinal Marching Band is charged a course fee of $140 to help defray the cost of band camp and support the regular maintenance of instruments and uniforms. This will appear on your Fall semester tuition statement.
If you have any questions about this fee, please contact Dr. Yonchak.
Every member of the Cardinal Marching Band is charged a course fee of $140 to help defray the cost of band camp and support the regular maintenance of instruments and uniforms. This will appear on your Fall semester tuition statement.
If you have any questions about this fee, please contact Dr. Yonchak.
