Beginning in 1885 as a 12-member cadet band, the University of Missouri Band program now includes more than 450 students from virtually every discipline across campus. MU Bands offers three concert ensembles − Wind Ensemble (our top auditioned band featuring one-per-part and chamber music opportunities), Symphonic Band (our second auditioned band), and University Band (a non-auditioned ensemble for students who still want to perform in a concert ensemble and for music education majors who want additional experience performing on secondary instruments). In addition to performances across Missouri and the United States, Marching Mizzou has performed at the 2012 and 2016 St. Patrick’s Festival Parade in Dublin, Ireland. While in Ireland, Marching Mizzou also performed in the Limerick International Marching Band Festival and Competition where they were distinguished as the International Band Champions. Marching Mizzou planned to return to Ireland this March for both the 2020 St. Patrick's Festival Parade and Limerick International Marching Band Festival and Competition until the COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement, then cancellation of the trip in 2021. Marching Mizzou looks forward to returning to Ireland next March in 2024 as we earned yet another invitation to perform in the St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Dublin. In September of 2021, by invitation of Governor Mike Parson, Marching Mizzou represented the State of Missouri in the Bicentennial Inaugural Parade, showcasing 200 years of Missouri history in Jefferson City, MO. In April of 2021 Marching Mizzou earned an invitation to perform in the 96th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, New York in November of 2022, where we led the parade and was featured in the Opening Number alongside Lea Michele and the Cast of Funny Girl.

Membership in the bands is open to all university students, regardless of major. Our ensembles perform regularly at state and regional conferences such as the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference and the Southwest College Band Directors National Association Conference. We have recently toured and performed in Australia, Austria, China, Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic. MU Bands are active in a variety of commissioning projects and consortia that have included such distinguished composers as Steven Bryant, Ryan George, Catherine Likhuta, John Mackey, Michael Markowski, David Maslanka, Aaron Perrine, Omar Thomas, and Joel Puckett. In addition, guest composers-in-residence (such as Michael Daugherty and Jonathan Newman) work with students in our concert bands to help connect the music that is being performed to their artistic vision of the piece. Each year, the MU Bands host the All-Juniors Honor Band, an immersive on-campus experience for talented junior students from across the state of Missouri.

The University of Missouri School of Music offers Graduate Assistantships in the band area. Band GTAs assist the band faculty with administration of all aspects of the MU Band program, both athletic and concert, and events throughout the year hosted by MU Bands. Band GTAs have numerous conducting opportunities with all levels of our concert bands, assist with the instruction of Marching Mizzou, and share Mini Mizzou (pep band) conducting responsibilities with the athletic band directors. Additional teaching duties within the music education curricula such as basic conducting, rehearsal clinic, marching band techniques, and instrument methods courses are available.