Mustang Marching Band

The Mustang Marching Band is the largest, most visible performing group on campus. The band is comprised of a dedicated color guard, and woodwind, brass and percussion players who provide entertainment at many Cal Poly athletic events. The band maintains a very reasonable schedule of rehearsals and performances, making it possible for students from any major to participate.

Mustang Band rehearses Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:10 to 5:30 p.m. The band performs in different configurations throughout the year. In fall quarter, the full band performs as a large outdoor marching band at football games and is divided into pep bands for volleyball and basketball games. During winter quarter, the band switches fully into pep band mode, playing at home basketball games, pep rallies, and community events. During spring quarter, the group performs at Open House and other activities as needed. Each year, Mustang Band travels at least once as a full band. For this season, they will travel to San Francisco for the Chinese New Year Parade

How to Qualify

If you have been an active member of your high school and/or college band, you likely already have the basic skills necessary for membership. There is a place for you in the Mustang Band. Come and join us.

Academic Credit

Students participating in the Mustang Band receive two units of credit. All new members of the band will enroll in MU 176-01, “Mustang Band” as well as MU 178-01, “Field Show Marching Skills.”

Travel

Once or twice each year, the full complement of Mustang Band travels to represent the university at key events. These include football games and the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade. In the winter the Pep Band will attend the Big West Basketball Tournament and go on to support our teams in NCAA competition.

Auditions

Generally speaking, any student who performed throughout their high school band program has the skill needed to audition successfully for Mustang Band. All prospective members will submit an online audition. For specific information, please refer to the Mustang Band website. Upon completion of auditions, the full Band roster for fall will be announced during the first week of August.

Cost

In addition to the full-dress marching uniform, each new member is supplied a Mustang Band uniform undershirt and a Pep Jersey. White gloves are available for $2. All purchases will be through the band’s Uniform Manager. Students are responsible for finding white marching shoes for the formal uniform. If you have white, non-shiny marching shoes from high school, then you may use those. Refer to the Mustang Band website for specifications and recommendations for placing your order.

For those students who need a state-owned instrument (percussion, sousaphone, marching French horn, etc.) a $20 “music use fee” must be paid for each quarter the instrument is used. This fee may be paid through a student’s Cal Poly Portal or at the Cashier’s Office on campus.

Find Out More

If you have any questions, or if you would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us. Otherwise, if you think that you might want to be a part of the Cal Poly “Pride of the Pacific,” please fill out our Online Interest Form.

Ensemble Director
Christopher J. Woodruff, Director of Bands
Email Christopher Woodruff
Phone: 805-756-6856

Ensemble Director
Nicholas P. Waldron, Associate Director of Bands
Email Nicholas Waldron
Phone: 805-756-2658