The Wind Ensemble is the premiere instrumental ensemble on the MSU campus. Membership is open to the most advanced instrumentalists, both music majors and non-majors. Students are awarded membership positions through competitive audition. This select group rehearses and performs in both Fall and Spring semesters, and takes a regional performance tour annually.

The repertoire encompasses the finest works available for wind band, including both traditional and contemporary literature. In recent years, the Wind Ensemble has had the privilege of working with many notable composers and conductors. In December of 2003, the MSU Wind Ensemble was the featured university band at the Mississippi Bandmasters Association Convention and performed with composer Steven Melillo. In January of 2004, the Wind Ensemble premiered Roland Barrett’s Fanfare and Flourishes, a work commissioned to commemorate the Centennial Celebration of the Mississippi State University Maroon Band program. Most recently, the Wind Ensemble presented the Southeastern premiere of Aldo Forte’s Dance Scenes at the 2005 MSU Honor Band Clinic with the composer conducting.

The Symphonic Band is comprised of musicians representing almost every major on the MSU campus. The group performs a comprehensive mix of wind repertoire, including orchestral transcriptions, classic works for band, contemporary concert works, and “pops” arrangements. The Symphonic Band meets during the spring semester, Monday-Thursday, from 5-6 p.m., and performs 2-3 concerts annually. Membership in the band is gained through auditions held in late October. Any student with prior band experience is welcome to audition.

The Starkville/MSU Community Band is a course offered by the MSU Band Program and the Department of Continuing Education. The group’s membership is a mix of community members from throughout the Golden Triangle region as well as university band students, and rehearses on Monday evenings during spring semester (Students have an additional rehearsal on Wednesday afternoons). The band plays a mix of contemporary and traditional band literature as well as marches, patriotic music, Broadway show tunes, and other “pops” literature.

Community members can register for the course by contacting Valerie Tate of the Department of Continuing Education at (662) 325-8876. CEU’s are available for participation.

Membership in the Campus Band is open to all students regardless of major. The band meets during the lunch hour and performs two concerts during spring semester at local public schools. The course emphasizes learning primarily through the performance of literature, but also has a special focus on developing practical musical skills such as sight-reading.

Membership in the MSU Jazz Ensemble is open to any MSU student by placement audition regardless of major. The band rehearses two hours per week and performs one to two concerts on campus each semester. Students who play bass or guitar and have not been able to participate in the typical concert band setting are also encouraged to audition.

For over 100 years, the Mississippi State University Famous Maroon Band has provided support and entertainment for Bulldog fans everywhere. With over 250 students representing every college and school on campus, the band has always been at the heart of the Mississippi State family.

During the past century, thousands of students have developed their leadership and musicianship skills through membership in the Famous Maroon Band. This long standing tradition will continue when the 2006 Famous Maroon Band takes the field! From the pregame activities around campus to the victorious sounds of Hail State at game’s end, the Famous Maroon Band always ignites the crowd in support of the Bulldogs.

The MSU Pep Bands perform at all Men's and Women's home basketball games and travel to the SEC and NCAA Tournaments. In the spring of 2007, the pep band traveled to New York City to support the Bulldogs in the NIT Final Four. In recent years, the Pep Bands have performed in Albuquerque, NM; Orlando, FL; Atlanta, GA; Greenville, SC; and Charlotte, NC. Pep Band members receive a stipend in addition to their regular band scholarship. The Pep Bands are selected from members of the Marching Band.