Columbia University Marching Band

Founded in 1904, the Columbia University Marching Band—The Cleverest Band in the World™—was the first of America's college marching bands to convert to the scramble band medium during the early 1960s. Steeped in a strong and vibrant tradition of irreverent humor, the Band has never shied away from controversy, and seeks to always live up to its motto: "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the Band."

Now into its fifth decade of wreaking havoc across the Ivy League, the Band has become an institution on campus as one of Columbia's premier spirit, music, and humor groups. Encompassing not only musicians but also composers, arrangers, comedy writers, sports fans, hecklers, jokesters, singers, chemists, and general lovers of Alma Mater, the CUMB is a home for even the zaniest of Columbians, provided they have a sense of humor.

The Band plays at every Columbia home football game, as well as away games against other Ivy League schools. During the basketball season, the Band is almost always at the Levien Gym "Lion's Den" to cheer on both the Men's and Women's teams. The CUMB also makes many other appearances around Columbia and New York City, including Orientation Week for Columbia first-years, its World-Famous Underground Tour™ of the Morningside Heights campus, Tax Day at the 34th Street Post Office, Election Day at the Wien Polling Station, and, of course, the semi-annual Orgo Night at Butler Library. (read less)

Founded in 1904, the Columbia University Marching Band—The Cleverest Band in the World™—was the first of America's college marching bands to convert to the scramble band medium during the early 1960s. Steeped in a strong and vibrant tradition of irreverent humor, the Band has never shied away from controversy, and seeks to always live up to its motto: "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the Band."

Now into its fifth decade of wreaking havoc across the Ivy League, the Band has... (read more)