The Bands
Band season at OSU begins with camp in September and ends after the spring game in April, with Awards Night taking place just afterwards. Within that time we take different shapes, identities, and uniforms depending on the time of year, the formality of the occasion, and the needs of the performance. All of the bands below are comprised of the same group of students, just with different uniforms, music, or venues.
The Oregon State University Marching Band
The Spirit and Sound of OSU, the Oregon State University Marching Band (OSUMB) has remained an institution in the Corvallis Community since its founding, and is the premiere performing ensemble within the OSU Athletic Bands Program. The OSUMB is active during fall quarter, and works hard to uphold its primary responsibility of carrying on the musical tradition and legacy of Oregon State University. The Spirit and Sound also participates in football games, parades, campus live activities, and countless other community events.
The Spirit and Sound is where the organization develops sound concepts, performance style, marching form, and everything else that we are known for. Participation in the OSUMB is required for participation or audition with the other performing groups in the OSU Athletic Bands Program.
Seasons: Fall
Basketball Band
Members of the Spirit and Sound are eligible to participate in Basketball Band during Winter Quarter. Basketball Band’s schedule generally coincides with the conference basketball season, but this group also covers other events over the course of winter quarter, including some wrestling matches and gymnastics meets.
Basketball Band welcomes a rhythm section of drumset and electric bass into the band, and greatly expands the music folder from the fall. Depending on the year and the ambition, Basketball Band carries between 50 and 70 songs in the music folder for the season.
Seasons: Winter
Rhythm and Beavs
Rhythm and Beavs (R&B) is our elite auditioned travel and special event band. In the fall, R&B covers home volleyball and basketball games that overlap with the OSUMB season. During winter quarter, these students perform with Basketball Band and are the band that travels with the teams to the PAC12 and NCAA tournaments. In addition, Rhythm and Beavs stands ready to answer the call to perform special events for the university, such as President Ray’s retirement event in Portland in 2020, the dedication of the new LINC building in 2015, and the 2018 baseball national championship celebration.
Rhythm and Beavs is an auditioned ensemble, and members who make the roster receive a yearly stipend in recognition of their additional time and effort.
Seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring
Samba Batucada
The OSU Drumline breaks off into a designated samba percussion outfit to support OSU Soccer! The beautiful game deserves the appropriate music, and the grand tradition of Brazilian percussion fits the bill nicely. As fits with the history of the activity, the band plays upwards of 50 minutes during the action of each match, changing grooves and solos to enhance the pace and direction of play on the pitch. Samba Batucada band plays several OSU Men’s and Women’s Soccer games throughout the Fall.
Seasons: Fall
Bar Band
A Corvallis tradition that is approaching its twenty year anniversary, Bar Band has become a beloved community event. On Friday evenings prior to Beaver home games, after practice the band performs at a tour of downtown Corvallis bars and restaurants.
Seasons: Fall
OSU Alumni Band
The OSU Alumni Marching Band consists of all past members of the Spirit and Sound. Each fall we invite alumni to come back and participate alongside our current OSUMB members for one or more Beaver Football Home Games. These games serve as a fun and memorable way to give back to the OSUMB. The Alumni Band performs at the Beaver Walk team entry event, tailgating, in the stands, and of course on the field for Pre-Game and halftime! We provide the food and the fun, and all you need to participate is your Alumni Band Polo shirt.
In addition, members of the Alumni Band form the foundation for the group that performs at home Gymnastics meets, under the direction of alumni director Mark Tarasawa
