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Bands Alumni

Traditions - "Georgia On My Mind"

Erin Killey, 2007 Georgia Soloist

Since 1981, the Marching Leathernecks have "wowed" audiences with their rendition of "Georgia On My Mind" as arranged by longtime band director Dale Hopper. Usually, "Georgia" is performed with the band forming two lines in front of the field/performance area. The first part of the song includes a trumpet solo performed by a annually-chosen member of the Marching Leathernecks trumpet section and is a position of honor. The front line of the band faces away from the crowd for this portion of the song, before turning around in the middle and letting loose with a wall of sound.

To honor the many performances of "Georgia On My Mind" by the Marching Leathernecks, Dale Hopper...the man who made this song a tradition at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥ Illinois University, and the many Georgia Soloists over the last 45 years, here is a list of the soloists, as well as links to performances of the song throughout the years.

Year Soloist Video (if available)
1981 Matt Lee Ìý
1982 David Kisting
1983 Stephen Hawk
1984 Dan Moore Ìý
1985 Ìý Ìý
1986 Ìý Ìý
1987 Robert Seymour Ìý
1988

Karl Hammond
Eric Johnson
(1-2 performances)


1989 Karl Hammond Ìý
1990 Bill Hardy Ìý
1991 Ìý Ìý
1992 Ìý Ìý
1993 Jeff Loper Ìý
1994 Jeff Loper Ìý
1995 Jeff Loper Ìý
1996 Jason Sivill
1997 Jason Sivill Ìý
1998 Jason Pool
1999 Jason Pool
2000 Travis Lopez
2001 Travis Lopez Ìý
2002 Travis Lopez Ìý
2003 Bob Hanerhoff Ìý
2004 Bob Hanerhoff Ìý
2005 Nathan Haley Ìý
2006 Nathan Haley Ìý
2007 Erin Killey Ìý
2008 Erin Killey Ìý
2009 Mike Amano
2010 Mike Amano Ìý
2011 Tyler Montgomery
2012 Tyler Montgomery Ìý
2013 James Whelan Ìý
2014 James Whelan Ìý
2015 Jeremy Henman Ìý
2016 Jeremy Henman Ìý
2017 Austin Dunaway Ìý
2018 Austin Dunaway
2019 Lane Harmon
2020 Jared Johnson Ìý
2021 Jared Johnson

Photo: 2009 Marching Leathernecks