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Serving Aurora and the Fox Valley Since 1937

In 1937, a pair of World War I veterans from Roosevelt-Aurora Post 84 in Aurora, IL formed a Cadet band comprising high school musicians.

Today, just as it was at its inception, the Aurora American Legion Band is an organization that encourages student musicians to develop a lifelong love affair with music. The Band also provides adult musicians the opportunity to continue playing and performing, wherever they are in their musical careers. The Band’s focus remains continuing music education, improving musicianship with an ever-expanding musical library of challenging pieces.

Whether you are seeking us out to attend one of our concerts, or to find out how to join us on stage this summer, you will find the information you are looking for on this site.

Feel free to contact us (or email us at info@auroralegionband.com) for more information. We look forward to hearing from you or seeing you at one of our performances.

Hear The Band

Our Conductor

Patty Sampson joined the Legion Band as conductor beginning with the 2023 season.

As we prepare for our 2024 season, Ms. Sampson is in her 30th year of teaching and her 19th year at West Aurora High School. Miss Sampson conducts Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Band. 

A native of Joliet, Miss Sampson earned her undergraduate degree in music from DePaul University and Master’s degree in Music Education from Northwestern University. After graduating from DePaul, she taught at Jacobs High School in Algonquin for five years, then moved to Mundelein High School where she taught concert bands, jazz bands, show choir combo and directed the pit orchestra for the musicals. 

Miss Sampson is a frequent adjudicator and clinician in the Chicagoland area. She has been recognized in Who’s Who Among American Teachers five times, Most Inspirational Teacher at Eastern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, and Illinois State University, Phi Delta Kappa Teacher of the Year in Lake County, and was a Grammy Nominee and quarterfinalist in 2014 and a Grammy Nominee for the 2017 Grammys.

Where to See the Band

The Aurora American Legion Band performs primarily during the summer months. Our home is Aurora, IL, but the Band plays in Memorial Day and Independence Day parades, and indoor and outdoor concert appearances throughout the Western suburbs of Chicago.

Our concert schedule will have additional details for performances. All performances are free admission. If you would like to book the band for your next event, please contact us!

Band History

The Aurora American Legion Band will enter its 87th year in 2024. The Band, originally sponsored by Roosevelt-Aurora Post No. 84 in Aurora, Illinois, was formed in 1937 as a Cadet Band. Two World War I veterans invited Aurora-area high school bandsmen to play. During World War II the Band’s activities were temporarily halted, but in 1946 the Band reformed with veterans of both World Wars I and II. Later, veterans of Korea and Vietnam joined the ranks. The Band continues to be true to its patriotic roots, performing parades, concerts, and other observances in and around the Fox Valley.

The Aurora American Legion Band is entirely self-supporting; it subsists on donations and earnings from appearances, which include two parades in Aurora each summer, and several concerts in and around the Fox Valley.

More Information

Members and Prospective Members

  • To inquire about joining the Band, please contact us.
  • All members (new or returning) must fill out a Membership Application at the beginning of the season.
  • Please review our schedule and check your availability for performances and rehearsals.
  • Join our Members Page on Facebook.

Board of Directors

Greg Probst, President
Karin Mayes, Vice-President
Jan Marti, Secretary
Laura Schachtschneider, Treasurer
Jay Harrison
Greg Hensel
Donna Monterubio
Erika Sieh
Stefan Siegfried

Jon Wullbrandt, Treasurer Emeritus