This year for Giving Tuesday, the University of Illinois is prioritizing student wellness, and I was tasked with putting together a short piece of music for the fundraising video. As always, I returned to the well of traditional Illinois songs, looking for something less contemplative than 2020’s track, leaning into triumphant and heroic. I landed on March of the Illini, from the 3-in-1. I began with a piano and horns demo, then added strings and clarinet, then finally recorded live clarinet and did a full mix. You can hear all three below, as well as watch the completed video.