The Spirit of McKendree: How the Bearcat Sound Machine Brings the Hype
Oct. 28, 2026 | Maggee Bleyer
It’s game day at McKendree, and the community is buzzing. From tailgating to wearing purple and gold, everyone is caught up in the excitement as the football team prepares for another tense matchup. With nerves and exhilaration in the air, fans can count on one group of students to keep the atmosphere lively with McKendree pride: the Bearcat Sound Machine.
For Bearcat Sound Machine students like Marin Jalinsky, a senior music education major, the contagious game-day energy is one of her favorite parts of the band experience.
“There’s just something about the vibes at a football game [or] basketball game, making
music with my friends, that is just surreal,” Jalinsky said.
As a prospective student, Jalinsky was drawn to the music department, which motivated her to enroll at McKendree. Shortly after, she joined the Bearcat Sound Machine, building on her experience and education as she works toward her dream of becoming a music educator.
“Looking back, music was a safe space [for me], [it] was my home,” Jalinsky said. “I always felt at home here, and that’s what I want when pursuing a degree.”
Jalinsky shares this passion for music with the roughly 40-member band that performs at sporting events, especially home football and basketball games, throughout the academic year. She and Andre Sonner, director of percussion studies and the Bearcat Sound Machine, have seen noticeable growth in the band over the past few years. This year, the 2026-27 band season marks the largest class of new members, with nearly 20 first-year students contributing to the size.
Sonner attributes this growth to the band’s diverse musical selections, light rehearsal schedule (held only two days a week), and to its inviting atmosphere. He emphasized that the Bearcat Sound Machine welcomes students of all musical abilities and experience levels. The balance between new members with varying experience and upperclassmen in assistive leadership roles ultimately fosters a supportive environment and educational opportunity for musical development.
“If you’ve been playing since the third grade, great, come join us,” Sonner said. “If you’ve only been playing for a little bit of time, that’s great, too. We want this to be an ensemble for everybody.”
Sonner said the band tailors its music selections to each game, based on what is happening on the field or court. During fall rehearsals, the band focuses on learning to play these situational songs on command, such as “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes when the defense is on the field or the Mortal Kombat theme song when a controversial play occurs.
“We have a selection of roughly 38 shorties—[shorties are] like an arrangement of a song that comes in in about 30 seconds,” Sonner said. “Then, boom, the band can be ready to play these shorties in under five seconds, that way we’re ready to go whenever there’s a big play on the field.”
The band’s performances extend beyond game time. One of Sonner’s key initiatives this season is to increase the ensemble’s pop-up performances around campus. He has also expanded the drumline’s repertoire and taught the band more Bearcat cheers to incorporate into performances. With more pop-up and drumline performances, game-day attendees might see the Bearcat Sound Machine more often before games, whether by the Fountain, on the Front Lawn, or at the venue.
Sonner hopes the pop-up performances will build excitement before the games begin.
“When people see these pop-up performances, they might wonder what it means, and then realize it means that it’s game day at McKendree,” Sonner said. “This is an opportunity to build up more hype for game day.”
Behind those performances, student leaders play an important role in preparing the band and keeping it running smoothly. Students can audition for leadership roles within the Bearcat Sound Machine, taking on responsibilities that include helping with practices and mastering the band’s repertoire. Jalinsky, a brass section leader and stand conductor, leads sectionals and conducts the band during sporting events and other performances.
“As a stand conductor, [the role is] big on running the band and conducting all the pieces,” Jalinsky said. “It's very on the fly. If something goes awry, we have to cut off immediately. It's kind of the main leadership role, being able to lead the band in the biggest capacity.”
At the end of the academic year, the band holds a concert featuring music students learned during the fall semester, giving student conductors an opportunity to take the lead.
“I stand off to the side, giving our student conductors a chance to lead the show,” Sonner said.
After the band’s 2027 spring concert, Jalinsky will wrap up her time with the Bearcat
Sound Machine. She hopes her experience and leadership will carry over to the next
group of new members.
“I just want to finish out this final chapter doing what I love,” Jalinsky said. “I’m making sure that I leave this chapter making an impact, hopefully on the band, and leaving it all to the next group of kids to keep it going. [The band] is just like a big family.”
As the band continues to grow, Sonner watches the Bearcat Sound Machine's friendly, familial atmosphere strengthen year after year.
“Seeing the growth of the students, and then seeing the ones who were nervous open up, is special, and it’s really cool to see the family that the band brings out,” Sonner said. “Everyone gets to know everybody, which is really great.”
Sonner and Jalinsky said students interested in joining are welcome to attend performances and rehearsals to learn more about the Bearcat Sound Machine.
“Nerves are obviously a big thing, and it’s easier said than done, but you never know what opportunities you’re missing out on until you take the jump and go for it,” Jalinsky said. “It’s a place where you can drop your issues at the door and play music with people who also want to play music.”
Whether it is playing the Fight Song before a football game or welcoming back a championship team home, the Bearcat Sound Machine’s spirit for McKendree livens up campus all year long.
“We’re trying to create the soundtrack for whatever the event is on campus, and we want to hype it up,” Sonner said. “We want to support our students.”
Interested in learning more about the Bearcat Sound Machine? On Saturday, Nov. 7, the Bearcat Sound Machine invites you to spend a day in the life of a band member and experience the fun and friendship firsthand! You'll have the chance to perform with the band at a home football game and see how McKendree enriches the band experience. Register for “Bearcat Sound Machine Member for a Day” today!
For more information on how to join the Bearcat Sound Machine, visit our website.
