Ithaca College to Launch Pep Band in Fall 2026

By Sloan MacRae, May 11, 2026
New ensemble to energize home football gamedays and bring its sound to the Cortaca Jug game at Yankee Stadium.
A college pep band at a football stadium.

President La Jerne Terry Cornish with a special one-time Cortaca Jug pep band assembled for the 2019 game at MetLife Stadium.

Beginning in fall 2026, Ithaca College will introduce a new pep band, bringing live music, school spirit, and a dynamic presence to home football games and campus events.

The ensemble will debut during the 2026 football season and travel with the Bombers to the Cortaca Jug game at Yankee Stadium on November 14—placing the ensemble on one of the most iconic and visible stages in Division III athletics.

The pep band is made possible through a generous gift from Monica Bertino Wooden ’81, whose support revives a tradition at the intersection of music, athletics, and community.

A New Sound for Game Day

Designed to enhance the live experience of competition, the Ithaca College Pep Band will perform at home football games throughout the season, supporting student-athletes and engaging fans and alumni in the moment.

“A pep band is a unique and special part of the gameday experience,” said Daniel Cook, director of bands in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. “Our presence creates a high-energy atmosphere and cultivates a personal connection between musicians, athletes, fans, and the excitement of the moment.”

For Ithaca College Athletics, the addition of live music represents a meaningful enhancement to the student-athlete experience.

“I’m incredibly excited about what a pep band will bring to our football program and our student-athletes,” said Athletic Director Aaron Bouyea. “There’s a different kind of energy when live music is part of the game. It builds momentum on the sideline, lifts our players, and creates an atmosphere that’s impossible to ignore.”

Open to the Entire Campus

While rooted in the college’s longstanding musical tradition, the pep band is intentionally designed as a campus-wide opportunity.

Open to students from all majors and backgrounds, the ensemble offers a flexible, extracurricular way to stay engaged in music, whether continuing a long-standing passion or returning to an instrument in a new context. The initiative also reflects sustained student interest in creating new opportunities for musical engagement beyond traditional ensembles.

“The pep band will bring together music and community in a powerful way, and we’re excited to offer this opportunity to student musicians from across Ithaca College,” said Dean Steve TenEyck. “We look forward to welcoming students, including those outside the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, to audition and take part in this new ensemble. We are especially grateful to Monica for her generosity in making this possible."

“It creates meaningful opportunities for our music education students to develop skills in a style of performance they’re likely to lead in their own ensembles and programs. We’re building something that supports our students as musicians and educators while bringing a new level of excitement to Ithaca’s football experience.”

Daniel Cook, director of bands

Real-World Experience for Student Musicians

Beyond performance, the ensemble provides meaningful experiential learning, particularly for students preparing for careers in music education.

Pep band performance emphasizes versatility, responsiveness, and real-time audience engagement—skills that translate directly to school and community ensemble leadership.

“It creates meaningful opportunities for our music education students to develop skills in a style of performance they’re likely to lead in their own ensembles and programs,” Cook said. “We’re building something that supports our students as musicians and educators while bringing a new level of excitement to Ithaca’s football experience.”

Building Connection through Music

The pep band reflects a broader vision of connection, linking disciplines, audiences, and moments of shared experience across campus.

“I’m not a musician myself, but I’ve always appreciated what music brings to a community,” said Wooden. “With the prestige of Ithaca College’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance and so many students across campus arriving with instrumental experience, this felt like the right moment to invest in something that brings that energy to life.”

A pep band, she added, creates an immediate sense of presence and participation.

“It adds so much to the game-day atmosphere for our student-athletes, for fans in the stands, and for alumni coming back to campus. I’m honored to support students in continuing their love of music while helping build that sense of connection and school spirit.”

Looking Ahead to Fall 2026

The Ithaca College Pep Band will begin rehearsals at the start of the fall 2026 semester, with performances scheduled at all home football games and additional campus events.

Auditions are open to students across the college, and participants will receive instruments, apparel, and a stipend for the season.

The season will culminate with a trip to New York City for the Cortaca Jug game at Yankee Stadium, bringing the sound of Ithaca College to one of the most iconic venues in sports.

As the program takes shape, students across campus are invited to express interest and learn more about joining the Ithaca College Pep Band. Questions may be directed to Associate Director of Bands Ben Rochford.