Marching Cardinals

Welcome to the Marching Cardinals

The Marching Cardinals are directed by Prof. Nieves Villaseñor, coordinator of Music Education/Director of Bands. Founded in 2009, the Marching Cardinals has established itself as one of the most visible, energetic spirit organizations at UIW. Composed of students studying a wide variety of academic majors, the Marching Cardinals perform at every home football game, select away games, events off-campus and in exhibitions at marching contests around San Antonio and Austin. The band typically plays three halftime shows and a traditional pre-game drill yearly as entertainment for the UIW football game day experience.

Pre-season Dates

2025 UGS/Color Guard/Drumline/Rhythm Section Camp: Aug. 12-16

2025 Marching Cardinals Full Band Pre-Season Camp: Aug. 17 - 23

2025 Marching Cardinals Daily Schedules - Coming Soon

 

Information

2025 Marching Cardinals Welcome Packet - Coming Soon

2025 Marching Cardinals Drumline Audition Packet

Music for 2025 Marching Cardinals Full Band Pre-Season Camp

- Cardinal Fight Song

- New Cardinal Fanfare

- San Antonio Medley

- Hymn to the Incarnate Word

- Everybody’s Everything

2025 UIW High School Band Day – Aug. 30, 2025

TAKE FLIGHT WITH US and join the UIW Marching Cardinals for the UIW Cardinals season opener against Eastern Washington University! Become a Marching Cardinal for the day, where you’ll rehearse with your section, take part in our game-day traditions, and perform alongside the Marching Cardinals for our very first halftime show of the season.

TO GET STARTED
  • INFORMATION: 2025 UIW High School Band Day Information Packet - Coming Soon
  • PRE-REGISTER: Coming Soon
    • Note: You will receive an email to complete registration once our CashNet portal is live at a later date.

Tuition discounts starting at $1,000 are offered for registered, full-time UIW students participating in band ensembles at UIW. The list of Tuition Credits, also known as “Band Scholarships,” are typically sent to the Office of Financial Assistance at the end of the first week of classes and should appear on students' accounts the following week.

  • NOTE: Non-music major wind/percussion undergraduate students will need to register for MUAP 1144 in addition to MUEN 1140 to be eligible for Band Scholarships.
Please get in touch with Prof. Nieves Villaseñor at  nivillas@uiwtx.edu for more details.
Any student can join the Marching Cardinals. It is not necessary to be a music major. Basic rhythm, technical facility and high school marching experience (which is strongly suggested but not mandatory) are the most important qualifications for membership. All woodwind and brass members are automatically accepted. Color guard, drum line, and rhythm section participants must audition.

The instruments used include:

WOODWINDS

  • Piccolo/Flute
  • Clarinet
  • All Saxophones

BRASS

  • Trumpet
  • Mellophone
  • Trombone
  • Baritone
  • Tuba

PERCUSSION

  • Drumline
  • Front Ensemble
  • Rhythm Section (Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, Synthesizer, Auxiliary)

Join the Marching Cardinals

Color Guard and Percussion auditions occur before the start of Summer Band Camp.

If you would like to join the Marching Cardinals or would like to join the concert bands in the upcoming semesters, please fill out the University Bands Information Form (UBIF).