Tubaist Joe Ready joins Linfield as director of Wildcat Band

Director Joe Ready leads the Wildcat Band at the football game vs. Denison on Sept. 7.

Fans may notice a new look to the band performing at Wildcat Athletics and community events this semester. Previously known as the Linfield Marching Band, the revitalized Wildcat Band will continue supporting Linfield’s athletic teams by performing a variety of musical tunes and bringing a fun atmosphere to events.

“The Wildcat Band is focused on musical excellence and entertaining audiences,” Ready said. “Fans and community members should expect engaging, higher quality music performances during athletic and community events.”

Leading the Wildcat Band is Joe Ready, who began at Linfield in August. Ready earned his Bachelor of Music from the University of Oregon, and Master of Music from Bowling Green State University, both in tuba performance. Prior to moving back to Oregon in 2018, Ready was an associate member with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. In addition to his role as Linfield’s athletic band director, Ready is the principal tuba for the Portland Opera and has performed with orchestras in the Pacific Northwest including the Vancouver Symphony (WA), Eugene Symphony, Oregon Coast Music Festival, Oregon Ballet Theater and Oregon Symphony. He is also the lead low brass instructor for the Seattle Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps, an associate artist for The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass and low brass instructor at Pacific University.

“The unlimited potential of what the Wildcat Band can be is what attracted me to this position,” Ready said. “I really appreciate the sense of community and culture at Linfield University.”

Members of the Wildcat Band perform at the Sept. 7 home football game.

The band – currently 18 members strong – made its debut at the Sept. 7 home football game against Denison. Linfield students of all majors and skill levels are welcome to join. As a bonus, band members are eligible for up to $2,000 in scholarships and can earn paracurricular credit for participating. On average, the band rehearses five hours per week, with performances on nights and weekends during football and basketball seasons.

Ready hopes to build the excitement and interest in the band over the next few years.

“My primary goals for the Wildcat Band are for all members to have fun performing music to the best of their ability, and to continue building camaraderie within the band and the Linfield community,” he explained. “Long term, I would like the Wildcat Band to have three ensembles: The Wildcat Band, which is the primary group that performs at football games, and two smaller ensembles that play at athletic events during the spring semester, as well as campus and community events throughout the academic year.”

Students interested in joining can reach out to Ready at jready@linfield.edu. Additional information about the Wildcat Band is online at linfield.edu/athletic-band.

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