By Levi McGarry, College of Arts and Sciences, WSU Insider
The Cougar Marching Band, “The Best in the West”, will once again serenade the Cougar faithful during this weekend’s Homecoming matchup against the Boise State Broncos. While fans have enjoyed the band’s presence during the first three home football games of the season, they might not have realized the band boasts 260 members this year, the most students since the band’s founding in 1899.
“It’s the largest band this school has ever had, from all the records we’ve found,” said Jon Sweet, director of the Cougar Marching Band. “These kids have been working their butts off and doing great. They have shown such tenacity and resiliency, and it’s been a great semester thus far.”
A unique characteristic of the CMB is that nearly 80% of the band members are majoring in a degree other than music performance or music education, with over 70 different majors represented. Some of the most represented majors include biology, mechanical engineering, and animal sciences, with several members also pursuing degrees in psychology, nursing, and chemistry. Membership in the Cougar Marching Band is open to all students with high school instrumental music experience.
“The Cougar Marching Band is one of our most cherished organizations, with a long legacy of tradition and pride,” said Courtney Meehan, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “It is a commitment that truly shapes and strengthens our students, as evidenced by the generations of Cougs who have bonded deeply through their involvement and participation in the marching band.”
The band performs a different halftime show for every home game. Members begin rehearsing the show on Monday, practicing all week until a final rehearsal on Gesa Field on Saturday morning. This September, band members prepared diligently through three straight weeks of shows, demonstrating a deep dedication to providing the best atmosphere possible on gameday afternoons.
Sweet said that the CMB has plenty more surprises up its sleeve.
“We’ll perform a brand new show for Homecoming, based on the music of the James Bond franchise, so that will be fun,” Sweet said. “And for the November 14th game against Colorado State, we’re planning to light up the band for halftime, so we’ll turn off the stadium lights and have the band lit up with LEDs on their uniforms.”
The Cougar Marching Band will also be joining several events celebrating the School of Music’s 125thAnniversary, including the upcoming Gala Concert on February 19, 2027. Performers across the School of Music will converge at Beasley Coliseum for a night celebrating the legacy and commitment to performing arts at WSU.
“The band is working on something cool for the Gala, but since we’re still planning it, I really can’t say more,” said Sweet. “People will just have to come check it out.”
Learn more about the School of Music’s 125th Anniversary, including historical background and upcoming events.