History of Marching Mizzou
Marching Mizzou, originally titled the “University of Missouri Cadet Band,” was founded in 1885 with Band 1 by Frederick Pannell from the encouragement of Lt. Enoch H. Crowder, a Professor of Military Science and Tactics at the State University of Missouri Agricultural College and University.
In 1885, the University of Missouri Cadet Band was comprised of twelve members, as membership was initially limited to the University of Missouri Corps of Cadets. They made only one appearance in the 1885 season, at a football game against the University of Kansas, but it was so well received by the community they were asked to return the next season. The band obliged and, as a result, membership in the ensemble quickly grew in number.
Professor Pannell directed the band until his retirement in 1903, at which time Burr H. Ozmet assumed the leadership of the then 31-member military band and Band 18. Under the direction of George Venable, the band was established in 1910 as a Reserve Officers Training Corps Band or Band 25. During his tenure until 1946, the band eventually moved away from the strict military band style to characteristics of a show band when uniform changes were made in 1934, Band 49.
Band 49 in 1934 marked the beginning of a show band concept that included the traditional “M” and letters of opposing schools, words, stick figures, and pictures. The band won the highest honors in the Big 6 conference the same year. During the 1938-39 Centennial Celebration of the University, Band 53 performed on a national broadcast and journeyed to the World’s Fair in New York City as well as San Francisco.
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Pictured Above: Missouri Cadet Band in 1938-1939.
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Following the dissolution of the Corps of Cadets, in 1944, Band 59, membership opened to all males in the university. In 1946, Band 61, moved into the Department of Music under Director of Bands, Dr. George Wilson.
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​Pictured Above: Missouri Football Band from 1948-1949​
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In 1956, the University of Missouri Cadet Band split into a concert band and university band, while maintaining the marching band, resembling a similar structure to that of today.
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Pictured Above: Marching Mizzou from approximately 1950-1956.
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Mr. Charles Emmons assumed leadership as Director of Bands in 1957 and instigated many precision marching innovations with Marching Mizzou. Women were finally allowed to join the ranks in 1958, Band 73, despite most other bands at the time remaining male only. With the addition Mr. Emmons stated that Marching Mizzou was, “able to increase in size and improve the caliber of the group.”
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Pictured Above: Marching Mizzou from 1957-1961
In 1960, Mr. Emmons and his assistant, Mr. John Christie, created the famous “Flip Tigers” drill routine for Band 75 and the 1960 Orange Bowl Game. This unique monogram has become the signature of Marching Mizzou and is performed while playing the University of Missouri school songs, Every True Son and Fight, Tigers!
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​Pictured Above: Marching Mizzou at the 1961 Orange Bowl.​​​​​​​​
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Pictured Above: Marching Mizzou from 1962-1965.
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In 1966, Mr. Emmons retired as Director of Bands to become the Chair of the Department of Music and remained on faculty as a Professor Emeritus until his death in 2000. After Mr. Emmons’ retirement, Dr. Alexander Pickard succeeded Mr. Emmons as Director of Marching Mizzou.
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Starting in 1965 season with Band 80, the Golden Girls began to transform from a baton twirling squad to a sequined, high-kicking dance troupe, when Dr. Pickard added dancing to their routines at the beginning of his tenure. The group received their signature name after purchasing the now iconic gold sequined uniforms.
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Pictured Above: Marching Mizzou from approximately 1966-1975. ​​​​​
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During the Pickard years the band enjoyed an outstanding era of national recognition, bowl game appearances, and travel, including a trip to England in 1975 with Band 90, where they performed for 100,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium. ​
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Pictured Above: Marching Mizzou in London in 1975.
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Photos of Marching Mizzou from 1978. Photographed by Bill Greenblatt.
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Photos of Marching Mizzou from 1979. Photographed by Bill Greenblatt.
Dr. Pickard continued to work with the Department of Music as Assistant Director of the Department and Professor of Trumpet until his retirement in 2000. As a tribute to Dr. Pickard, current Director of Marching Mizzou Dr. Amy M. Knopps, then Head Drum Major of Band 115, famously changed the signature “Flip Tigers” drill to “Thanks,” “Pickard” at the Homecoming game on October 14, 2000. Afterwards Dr. Pickard stated, “I’ve been to a lot of retirement parties, but that had to be the best.”
Additionally, during his tenure at the University of Missouri, Dr. Pickard worked with the Marching Mizzou Alumni Band, and oversaw recruitment and music scholarship auditions for the Department of Music, which in 1999 received the accreditation as a School of Music. Upon his retirement, an endowed scholarship was established in Dr. Pickard’s
name for incoming freshmen members of Marching Mizzou.
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Photos of Marching Mizzou in 1980. Photographed by Bill Greenblatt.
Photos of Marching Mizzou in 1981. Photographed by Bill Greenblatt.
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​​​​​​​In 1982, Dr. Dale E. Kennedy became Director of Bands and in 1983, Jeffrey J. Lemke and J. Russell Laib joined the University of Missouri band faculty. Dr. Kennedy continued to work with Marching Mizzou until his untimely death in 1988. Graduate Norman Ruebling followed Dr. Kennedy as Director of Marching Mizzou from 1988 until 1993, Bands 102-107.
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Photos of Marching Mizzou in 1982. Photographed by Bill Greenblatt.
Mr. L. Kevin Kastens succeeded Mr. Ruebling and served as Director of Marching Mizzou until May 1998, at which time Dr. Laurence L. Marks then served as one-year interim director for Band 113. In 1999, a national search was conducted, and Dr. Gary T. Schallert was appointed as the new Director of Marching Mizzou. In 2001, under Dr. Schallert’s direction, Band 115 of Marching Mizzou represented the University and the State of Missouri in George W. Bush’s Presidential Inaugural Parade held in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Schallert left the University of Missouri in 2002 and was succeeded by Dr. Jason Stumbo, who had served as a Graduate Assistant with the band for three years prior to his appointment. In 2004, Dr. Michael Knight, a University of Missouri graduate, and former Drum Major of Marching Mizzou, was named Director.
After Dr. Knight’s departure in 2010, Marching Mizzou alumnus, Dr. D. Bradley Snow was named as the Director of Athletic Bands and newest Director of Marching Mizzou. Mr. John Freeman was named Assistant Director of Athletic Bands in the summer of 2011. Under Dr. Snow’s direction, Marching Mizzou unveiled a new uniform design featuring a diagonal block “M” design.
In 2012, Band 127 of Marching Mizzou performed for the St. Patrick’s Parade in Dublin, Ireland and competed in the International Band Championship in Limerick, Ireland where they were crowned International Band Champions.
In the spring of 2012, Dr. Freeman left MU making room for Dr. Chris Baumgartner to assume the role of Assistant Director of Athletic Bands.
After Dr. Chris Baumgartner’s departure, Dr. Fuller Lyon joined the University of Missouri Band Staff in the summer of 2013 to serve as the new Assistant Director of Bands. Under Dr. Snow and Dr. Lyon’s leadership, Band 131 of Marching Mizzou made a return trip to Ireland in the spring of 2016 and once again were crowned International Band Champions.
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Upon Dr. Snow’s and Dr. Lyon’s departure in 2016, Dr. Erin Colleen Cooper was named Director of Athletic Bands. Although she served for only one year, Dr. Cooper was the first female Director of Marching Mizzou in their then 131-year history.
In June of 2017, University of Missouri Alumna and former Head Drum Major, Dr. Amy M. Knopps was appointed Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands alongside Dr. Pete Zambito, Assistant Director of Athletic Bands.
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In August of 2020, Marching Mizzou welcomed Dr. Christian M. Noon, Assistant Director of Bands to the Marching Mizzou Instructional Staff.
Band 134 of Marching Mizzou was scheduled to make a return trip to Ireland, their third total, in March of 2020, but had to postpone, then ultimately cancel their tour, in 2021 due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Now that it is safe to travel internationally again, Marching Mizzou accepted the invitation to perform in the St. Patrick’s Festival Parade in March of 2024 with Band 138. While in Ireland Marching Mizzou earned the distinction of “Best Overall Band” in the St. Patrick’s Festival Parade and completed a very special performance in Tipperary, Ireland the day prior due to “Every True Son” being set to the musical selection, “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.”
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In April of 2021, Marching Mizzou was notified of their invitation to perform in the 96th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in November of 2022. This was Marching Mizzou’s first performance in this historic parade where we not only led the parade, but was part of the opening number with Lea Michele and the cast of Funny Girl. Additionally, we performed at the Today Show live on NBC during our time on the Today Show.
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Overall, Marching Mizzou's bowl game appearances have included the Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Holiday Bowl, Liberty Bowl, Tangerine Bowl, Sun Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Insight.com Bowl, Independence Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Texas Bowl, Alamo Bowl, Armed Forces Bowl, and the Gasparilla Bowl. The band has performed at the SEC Championship as well as Kansas City Chiefs, including for Monday Night Football and the debut of Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime, and St. Louis Rams professional football games.
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The Southeastern Conference has long been known for fielding many of the finest marching bands at the collegiate level, and the University of Missouri, one of the leading educational and research institutions in the world, is no exception. Marching Mizzou, also known as the “Big ‘M’ of the Midwest,” and sometimes abbreviated as “M2,” has grown over its 138-year history to be the most visible ensemble in the School of Music and the largest student ensemble on campus. Although many of its core members are music majors, Marching Mizzou boasts an even higher number of students representing nearly every discipline across campus.
Under the direction of Dr. Amy M. Knopps, Dr. Christian M. Noon, and Dr. Pete Zambito, Marching Mizzou advances into its second century with a time-honored tradition of excellence that combines quality musicianship, spirit, and pride to create their nationally renowned gridiron excitement that blends the great traditions of the University of Missouri with the exciting performance styles of today. With exciting music, creative show designs, and a marching style that is clean, precise, quick moving, and entertaining, Marching Mizzou continues to captivate audiences of all ages at football games, parades, and performances both domestic and abroad, rightfully taking its place among the nation’s oldest and finest university band programs.