The performance begins as the band gathers in the center of the field.  Marching toward the north endzone in block band formation, band members sing "Pride of the Illini" as thousands of onlookers clap in rhythm to the cadence of the snare drum. As the Marching Illini nears the North endzone, the Chief appears, bursts through the block band, and dances downfield toward the South endzone.   After the Chief reaches the south endzone, he returns to the center of the field for the Alma Mater. During the downfield portion of the dance, the Marching Illini, which has been marching in block band formation towards the North endzone, performs a difficult countermarch maneuver and marches back towards the center of the field spelling "ILLINI". As the band finishes spelling "ILLINI", the Chief returns to the center of the field.  The downfield portion of the dance is now complete.

The Chief stands at the center of the field during the playing of the
Alma Mater during the Marching Illini's 3-in-1.

As thousands of students, alumns, and fans sing the University of Illinois alma mater, the Chief stands at the center of the field with his arms extended towards the sky.  After the playing of alma mater, the Chief performs the second part of the dance, the solo dance.  While the downfield dance carries from endzone to endzone, the solo dance takes place around the center of the field.  During the solo dance the band remains in place, still in "ILLINI" formation and plays the refrain to "March of the Illini".  Throughout much of the both portions of the dance, the Chief performs what is called the "double-step".   This double step is an adaptation of a traditional doublestep common to many Native American styles of dance. At the conclusion of the 3-in-1 the band marches off to Oskee-Wow-Wow, the Chief departs, and Illini fans prepare for an exciting 2nd half!

The dance begins as Chief Illiniwek bursts 

through the Marching Illini during the 3-in-1.

The Chief performs the Downfield
portion of the dance.

The Chief prepares to leave the field at the conclusion of the dance.

The Marching Illini and Chief Illiniwek perform "Three in One" at Homecoming 1999

"Three in One" is the basis for the ending of every halftime show that the MI performs at home and every pregame show performed at away games and bowls (where time is short). The drill is a marquee drill that involves individualized drill. No more than two people have the same drill for the countermarch portion of the drill. The drill ends in the signature Illini formation.

The music is the combination of three individual songs: "The Pride of the Illini", "The March of the Illini", and the Alma Mater, "Hail to the Orange". These three songs were combined in the form they are now, and the traditions of "Three in One" and Chief Illiniwek began in 1926. They have been mostly unchanged to this very day.

The drill for "Three in One" is also nearly the same today as it was when first performed. Minor changes have been made to allow for a bigger membership in the band as well as the addition of a Flag Corps and the Illinettes.

The Marching Illini was the first band to sing a capella on the field, and that fact is celebrated by singing the lyrics to "The Pride of the Illini" the first time through, and then playing it the second time. The music was written by Karl L. King and the lyrics by Raymond L. Dvorak.

The lyrics to "The Pride of the Illini" are:

The Alma Mater, "Hail to the Orange", was written by H. R. Green and Harold V. Hill and is the third part of "Three in One". The MI sings "Hail to the Orange" a capella in four parts to close out the afternoon after marching back to the Harding Band Building following the game and at most formal concerts. The words are as follows:

"Three in One" History

The Current "Three in One" as performed by the Marching Illini, consists of:
"Pride of the Illini" by Karl King - Sung acapella by the Marching Illini
"March of the Illini" - The Chief's dance

"Hail to the Organge" - The University of Illinois Alma Mater first sung acapella by the Marching Illini and then played instrumentally. "Hail to the Orange" was composed by H. R. Green and Harold V. Hill,

Older versions of the Three in One
A 'long form' was commonly used in the halftime shows of the early 1950s with abbreviated forms used in the later 1950s and today. Now long forgotten 1st and 2nd strains of Karl L. King's "The March of the Illini" were performed, now replaced by Ray Dvorak's immortal lyrics to the 3rd strain of "The March of the Illini." An instrumental repeat is no longer played nor is a longer and more dramatic finale of "Pride of the Illini."

"Pride of the Illini"
This is the original march from which the arrangement in the current Three in One is based. This march was written for A.A. Harding and the University of Illinois Bands in 1928. It is one of Karl King's many college marches which included compositions for The Universities of Iowa State, Minnesota, Michigan, Purdue, Northwestern, and Wisconsin.