Ensembles

About Us: Ensembles

Oregon Marching Band

The Oregon Marching Band (OMB) brings energy to the stands and presents outstanding field shows at home and selected away football games. The OMB is one of the University of Oregon’s largest student-led organizations with more than 240 members from nearly every department on campus.

The Oregon Marching Band is a recognized university course that requires registration and awards credit. The OMB has a professional staff that has worked with a wide variety of both collegiate and drum corps programs. Woodwinds, brass, drumline, color guard, rifle line and a front ensemble perform corp-style programs for halftime performances. Currently the OMB is a non-audition group with the exception of the drumline and color guard. You will have a placement audition on the first day of band camp.

The OMB is a registered class that meets every Monday and Wednesday from 3:20-6 pm and Thursday from 7-9pm. Band camp starts two weeks before the beginning of fall term. During this time we rehearse from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with two 1.5 hour breaks. Depending on the season, we perform at 5-7 home games, at least one away game, and often a post-season bowl game. Recent bowl trips include the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, and the National Championship Game in Dallas. Although traveling can be exciting, nothing beats performing in the sold-out 54,000-seat Autzen Stadium. The Oregon Marching Band is an organization in which students can strive for excellence and achieve high levels of performance on and off the field.

Oregon Basketball Band

The Oregon Basketball Band is made up of 80 members from the OMB who perform at the Oregon Men’s Basketball games and at selected Oregon Women’s games. One of the best basketball bands in the country, the OBB is known for playing upbeat, exciting music with energy that electrifies the crowd. The OBB plays an important role in giving Matthew Knight Arena its home court advantage.

The OBB is a recognized university course and credit is given. Oregon Basketball Band members travel to the Women’s Pac-12 Tournament in Seattle, WA and the Men’s Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas, NV. Other post-season travel includes NCAA tournament play. The 2016-2017 band traveled with the women’s team to Durham, NC and Bridgeport, CT through to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history. The band also traveled with the men’s team to Sacramento, Kansas City, and all the way to the Final Four in Phoenix for the first time in 78 years!

Garter Bands

The Oregon Athletic Bands maintain two 12-member scholarship groups known as the Green Garter Band (GGB) and the Yellow Garter Band (YGB). The Garter Bands are the most versatile and elite athletic musical groups on campus. Often seen performing around the stadium before football games, the GGB and YGB play everything from Louie Louie to their own arrangements. Instrumentation for the bands includes four saxophones (two altos, tenor and bari), one mellophone, three trumpets, two trombones, bass guitar and drums. All members are selected by audition from the OMB. Green Garter Band members receive an annual scholarship of $6300. Yellow Garter Band members receive an annual scholarship of $1350.

The Garter Bands perform for all women’s volleyball games and selected women’s basketball games, as well as many other performances on and off campus. Student leadership and active student group involvement have made these groups truly exceptional. A faculty member advises the group, but student directors organize all tune selection, rehearsals and performances.