The Cowboy Marching Band

“The Pride of McNeese” Cowboy Marching Band is a time-honored organization, comprised of students from nearly every major within the university. As the most visible MSU ensemble, the marching band performs for over 100,000 people each fall. “The Pride” continually combines fantastic spirit and quality musicianship for every performance opportunity. Members enjoy a wide range of experiences, including fast-paced rehearsals, close friendships, travel to away games, fun and excitement in the stands and a high standard of performance on the field.

The band produces three to four different halftime shows and a pregame show each season. In addition to performances on the turf in Cowboy Stadium, the full band and/or smaller pep bands make annual trips to other Southland Conference games, as well as to regional high schools for exhibition performances. If you are looking for a place where you can fit in, network with friends, and live the college experience to the fullest, the Cowboy Marching Band is the place.

Wind Symphony

The Wind Symphony is the premiere performance organization of the McNeese State Band Program. The ensemble fosters the highest performance standards while offering its members an opportunity to expand their technical, intellectual, and musical horizons. The group seeks to broaden performance and teaching skills through the programming of exemplary literature while fostering an interest in the wind band as an integral part of the American musical scene.

The Wind Symphony offers a creative and positive music-making environment dedicated to performing outstanding and challenging works of diverse musical styles while furthering wind music of artistic and historical significance. Members of the Wind Symphony have exceptional opportunities to work with some of the world’s finest soloists, composers, and conductors throughout the year. In addition to its regular series of campus concerts, the ensemble tours and performs at both regional and national music conventions.

The wind symphony is open to all university students through audition. Auditions are held during the first two days of fall classes. A prepared audition piece for each instrument will be posted in the band hall one week prior to the first day of fall classes.

Symphonic Band

This outstanding concert organization is active during the spring semester and is composed of a balanced 60+ piece instrumentation that includes musicians from nearly all schools and departments within the university. Exploring traditional as well as contemporary works for band, this ensemble is widely known for its high level of performances of quality literature.
The Symphonic Band maintains an active schedule and enjoys a fine reputation as a group committed to the highest musical standards. Musicians in the Symphonic Band are provided with the opportunity to share in the excitement of the creative process as they broaden their musical experiences. An entrance audition is not required for symphonic band. However, part/chair placement auditions are conducted during the first class meeting.

Jazz Ensemble

The Jazz Ensemble, widely acclaimed for its precision and excitement, aspires to set the highest standards of excellence for the performance of jazz in all of its forms. The band is responsible for introducing the latest in big band material, while maintaining the roots of the region’s healthy jazz tradition. The Jazz Ensemble is designed to provide solid, professional training in the full range of musical styles inherent to jazz.

The jazz ensemble is open to all university students through audition. Auditions for the jazz ensemble are held during the first two days of fall classes. Audition materials are available from Professor Condit one week prior to the start of fall classes.

Cowboy Basketball Band

The McNeese State Basketball Pep Band is a highly energized group of musicians that lends its musical abilities and school spirit to create a “home court advantage” for the McNeese State men’s and women’s basketball teams. The group is made up of 30 to 40 of “The Pride of McNeese’s” finest and most enthusiastic instrumentalists.
This highly spirited and close-knit group performs at all men’s and women’s home basketball games and NCAA tournament games, pep rallies, and other special events. Special musical arrangements and a huge following of fans make the McNeese State Basketball Pep Band’s contribution to McNeese State athletics truly spectacular.

Percussion Ensemble

The MSU Percussion Ensemble provides McNeese State percussion majors and other student musicians with experiences in many different musical genres. We are proud to be the home of a full steel pan orchestra, which, along with Brazilian percussion and contemporary percussion ensemble literature, provides a truly exceptional experience for student musicians.