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, Marching Mizzou, the "Big M of the Midwest” and biggest student organization on campus, gives students the opportunity for quality musicianship, spirit, and pride to create their nationally renowned excitement that blends the great traditions of the University of Missouri with the exciting performance styles of today. With powerful music, creative show designs, and a marching style that is clean, precise, quick moving, and entertaining, Marching Mizzou continues to captivate audiences of all ages at football games, parades, and performances both domestic and abroad, taking its place among the nation’s oldest and finest university band programs. Marching Mizzou has performed across Missouri and the United States, and 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 recently accepted an invitation to perform in the 96th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in November 2022 in New York City. 

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.