University of Michigan Band

Recognized by its classic fight song, "The Victors," the University of Michigan Marching Band grew from its humble beginnings as a student-led group in 1896 to a beloved college musical institution. Originally just 22 members, the MMB regularly averages 400 members each year, representing students from every college and all three campuses at the University of Michigan. Balancing a love of marching band tradition with the embrace of modern technology, the MMB has garnered acclaim for its innovative, often risk-taking halftime shows and collaborations with Beyoncé, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and NASA. The University of Michigan Marching Band traces its origins to the pioneering efforts of 17-year-old Ann Arbor student Harry dePont, whose open call for campus musicians brought together over two dozen players on November 13, 1896. The student-run organization, initially helmed by conductor Ray P. Warren, quickly earned a loyal following on the strength of its appearances at school track meets and baseball games; still, the band remained a grass-roots cause without official university support and was plagued by financial struggles and internal conflicts throughout the early decades of its existence. Finally, in 1913, U-M's Board of Regents agreed to allow the marching band adequate funding, hiring Wilfred Wilson as its new conductor two years later. Under his leadership, the membership swelled from 40 musicians to nearly 100 by the time of his exit in 1926. William D. Revelli assumed the conductor position in 1935, remaining at the helm for the next 36 years; under his command, the University of Michigan Marching Band emerged as one of the most honored groups in collegiate music. The MMB has collaborated on halftime shows with a bevy of luminaries and organizations, including Beyoncé, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and NASA, among others. The marching band also spotlights many of the diverse offerings and programs at the university, from the SMTD Musical Theatre department to the U-M Spectrum Center, the U-M Ginsberg Center, and more. The MMB's many recordings include the albums Kick Off, USA, Touchdown USA! Big Ten Marches, and Stars & Stripes Forever.
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