I am looking for some options for schools with Marching Bands! My D is currently a sophomore/rising Junior and has articulated this interest. I am having trouble finding medium sized schools with marching bands. I have read about the Indiana University in Bloomington’s and the University of MD’s marching bands which seem wonderful, but those schools have 30-33,000 undergrads. The University of Pittsburgh has a fun band with 18,000 undergrads there. Any other schools between 10,000-30,000 undergrads that have nice marching bands? Thanks for your help and guidance.
Some of the regional universities in OH (Toledo, Bowling Green). What is your home state and how much can you afford?
Hi @“Erin’s Dad”, we are in PA. Would be great to have a final bill come in at $30,000 or under after merit awards/scholarships which has happened in our family for OSU and the University of Pittsburgh with my older kids ($27,500 and $19,000 respectively). I have heard that Ohio University has a nice band and they are at around 22,000 undergrads, I think. Also, the University of Cincinnati has a marching band. Maybe 27,000 undergrads there? Maybe fewer?
James Madison U in Virginia. Huge marching band but medium size school.
West Chester University was originally a state teacher’s college with a strong music education program. Now it is much larger (~15000 students) with many majors but continues to have many music majors and an excellent marching band. It was the first DII school marching band to be awarded the Sudler Trophy (best in the country) in fall 2019 by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. Of course, there’s also the Penn State Blue Band. Shippensburg also has a large and good marching band composed entirely of non-majors (no music major offered at Ship).
UConn! Also, UMaine (a bit smaller than 10,000 and offers a flagship match program)
UMass Amherst 22,000 undergrads “Power and Class” has performed at Macy’s Parade, Rose Bowl Parade, NE Patriots, etc.