Wayne State Band Fraternity Plays Pep Band At EPPJ Games

Wolfpack fans were serenaded by a pep band during last night’s basketball games. The band was made up of Elgin students, community members and the Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity from Wayne State College.

Elgin Public Band Director Eric Heithoff is a Wayne graduate who was in the fraternity during college. 

"When I was in college, we used to go to different schools and play pep band as well," Heithoff said. 

There was a big drop in numbers, but Heithoff said he still wanted the kids to be able to play at least once this year. Area directors were notified and invited to play with the fraternity. 

"Hopefully in the future it will grow and we'll have more people coming," Heithoff said.

He said that due to the low enrollment numbers at Elgin High School it is hard to assemble a pep band, but is hopefully that higher elementary numbers will bring more kids into the band when they enter 7-12 grades. 

"There are a lot of kids that play an instrument that aren't in it right now, that we would love to see come back too," he said.

According to Heithoff, the crowds enjoy pep band and feel that it really helps with the atmosphere at a game.

"We really appreciate the people from Wayne State coming down and providing a pep band for tonight's game," said EPS principal Greg Wemhoff, "It just adds a little more to the game and I know the kids are excited, the fans are excited.

Heithoff said, "I think it's really unfortunate that a lot of schools are having to go to recorded music instead of having that pep band tradition that used to always be there and now seems to be kind of going by the way side."