Bands
You are cordially invited to become a member of one of the most exciting and rewarding
organizations on the Towson campus—The Towson University Bands. Under the expert leadership
of four distinguished faculty members, our program features an incredible lineup:
the Towson University Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, alongside the spirited World
Famous Towson University Marching Band, and the electrifying TU Pep Band.
Through the College of Fine Arts and Communication, the Department of Music is home
to Towson Bands, which is recognized as a thriving arts center for Maryland. Membership
in TU Bands is by audition, composed of talented undergraduate and graduate students
pursuing music degrees, as well as passionate non-majors eager to keep the music alive
during their college journey.
College life offers a unique experience for everyone, but for the members of the Towson
Bands, it’s even more fulfilling. Imagine the thrill of hearing the crowd roar as
the marching band showcases a captivating and energetic pre-game and half-time performance,
or the pride of sitting on stage, playing some of the finest broad and diverse repertoire
of standard and contemporary wind literature. This is the extraordinary excitement
and joy that comes with being part of the Towson Bands!
Join us and experience the exhilarating world of TU Bands- GO TIGERS!
Check out our Facebook page!
If you have questions, please contact Dr. LaToya Webb, Interim Director of Bands.
Towson University Wind Ensemble
The Wind Ensemble is the premiere concert band in the Towson University Department of Music. The ensemble members meet twice a week and perform two to three concerts per semester. Composed of the finest woodwind, brass, percussion, piano, and harp musicians and artists, this ensemble is determined by auditions during the first week of classes each semester. With its long history of performance excellence, the Wind Ensemble shares a wide range of repertoire selected to challenge musicians artistically, technically, and intellectually, with the objective of advancing the ensemble toward professional performances that utilize 21st century performance paradigms.
Repertoire may include standard wind literature, transcriptions, contemporary/new composer works and student works. The Wind Ensemble has performed works by composers such as David Maslanka, Steven Bryant, Percy Grainger, Paul Dooley, Julie Giroux, Omar Thomas, Paul Hindemith, Kevin Day, Florence Price, Frank Ticheli, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, John Mackey, Lili Boulanger, and Brian Balmages. A noteworthy performance was in April of 2013, featuring Eric Ewazen’s Shadowcatcher alongside the Towson University Brass Quintet.
With an active performance schedule, the Wind Ensemble is committed to playing a significant role in the development of music educators in Maryland and throughout the world. The ensemble has toured throughout the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Tennessee Valley. Regional appearances include performances at many Maryland Music Educators Association conferences, three Eastern Division conferences of The National Association for Music Education, and two Eastern Division conferences of the College Band Directors National Association. The Wind Ensemble is also fortunate to collaborate and join forces with the Washington-based military bands and neighboring military post bands.
Wind Ensemble graduates go on to do fabulous things in the Maryland community and world, such as hold positions in military bands, symphony orchestras, and serve as educators and conductors, doctors, lawyers, researchers, nurses, computer programmers, mathematicians, business people, and much more.
Course Schedule:
Fall- Tuesdays/Thursdays, 2:00pm-3:15pm (MUSA 261/461/661)
Spring- Mondays/Wednesdays, 3:30pm-5:20pm (MUSA 261/461/661)
Towson University Symphonic Band
The Symphonic Band is the second performing concert band of the Towson University Department of Music. Membership in the Symphonic Band is by audition only, and the ensemble is composed of approximately 50-65 woodwind, brass, and percussion musicians. This ensemble is open to any TU student regardless of major. The select group of performers meet once a week and prepare a wide and diverse repertoire of standard and contemporary band literature for two concerts each semester.
Course Schedule:
Fall and Spring- Wednesdays, 6:30pm-9:10pm (MUSA 261/461/661)
Interested in auditioning for the Wind Ensemble or Symphonic Band? Visit our Ensembles page to learn more about the audition process and materials. Students must be enrolled in the ensembles to participate and to receive academic credit which may be used as an elective in curriculums outside music.
If you have additional questions, please contact Dr. LaToya Webb, Interim Director of Bands.
Marching Band
The World Famous Towson University Marching Band is a contemporary corps style university marching band that learns one half time show each season. This enables us to include sophisticated and current drill trends along with quality musical arrangements. Membership is open to all Towson University students, including non-music majors. No previous marching experience is necessary. The main requirement to join the TUMB is a strong desire to be part of an energized university marching band!
Towson University has made a strong financial commitment to its marching band in order to provide the best possible experience for the students. The band has an extremely high-quality instructional staff and solid student leadership organizations that function within the band. The Towson University Marching Band is extremely proud to have Yamaha Corporation as its corporate sponsor, which means that all of the TUMB’s school-owned brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments are Yamaha instruments. Towson is one of the elite few marching ensembles throughout the country that has this opportunity! Furthermore, ALL members of the TUMB receive a $500 stipend with an opportunity of up to $1,000 for participation in the fall semester. Additional stipends are also available in the spring semester for Pep Band participation.
In November 2009, the Towson University Marching Band enjoyed the most public and prestigious performance of its history as a participant in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The band was selected out of approximately 200 applicants to perform for 3.5 million people on the streets of New York City and more than 50 million people watching from their TVs at home! It was this at this event where we were given the title, “World Famous,” as this internationally televised event debuted the band for the world.
As of the 2017 season, the TUMB consists of approximately 260 students including guard, electronic ensemble, and front ensemble (pit percussion). Every year the band travels to Allentown, PA to perform among several college marching bands of the East Coast. In addition to traveling locally, the band had the incredible opportunity of flying to Frisco, Texas for the FCS National Championship. The Towson University Marching Band is under the direction of Mr John Miliauskas.
For more information, visit the Marching Band main website:
Pep Band
Experience the excitement of the Towson University Pep Band, celebrated as one of the top bands in the CAA conference! Known for its exceptional musicianship, sportsmanship, and entertainment, this dynamic group forms during the winter and spring semesters. They bring energy to every home basketball game and various campus events, performing at both men's and women's games and traveling with the teams to the CAA tournaments. Just like the marching band, you can earn 1 credit toward your degree. Plus, members receive a $20-$30 stipend for each game they attend. Join us and be part of this high-energy ensemble!
Interested in joining the TU Pep Band? Learn more at the Athletics Bands page.