The Illinois Brass Band was founded in 1991 by George Foster and William Homer who modeled it after the United Kingdom's Desford Colliery Caterpillar Band, which toured the U.S. in 1990. IBB entered its first North American Brass Band Association competition in 1993 and the next year won first place honors.

 

By 2002, IBB had won six NABBA championships in seven years, all while continuing to delight audiences throughout the Chicago area with a repertoire ranging from brass band classics and to show tunes and jazz. In 2003, IBB became the first brass band outside the Commonwealth to attend the British Open Brass Band Championships.

 

Over the years, IBB has presented dozens of concerts indoors and out and showcased exceptional artists including Roger Webster, Michael Mulcahy, and Brett Baker. The band has recorded five CD's with another planned in 2013.