Marching Mizzou began as a 12-person band in 1885, and, at its current number of 300+, has brought “real enthusiasm and genuine college spirit” to not only the football games but also the campus at large.
While the history of Marching Mizzou (aka M2) is impressive, its legacy is even more so. Former members of the “Big ‘M’ of the Midwest” have a deep loyalty and connection to what it represents both to the individuals who experienced it and to the university past and present. In the 1970s, one stalwart group of marchers wanted to keep the music going after they had left the field, so they created Marching Mizzou Alumni Band (M2AB). M2AB has performed at Homecoming pre-game shows ever since, learning a ‘show’ (consisting of marching and music) in about two hours on Saturday. The crowds — outside and inside the stadium, before and after the game – welcome and cheer us on enthusiastically.
Annual events in recent years include the pregame show at a Tigers football game, a picnic for Marching Mizzou at the end of its week of rehearsals before the fall semester, a pregame tailgate picnic for M2 alumni and families before the Black and Gold game in April, promotion of a small band for the MAA Kansas City chapter’s annual picnic and auction in August, organization of small bands at other alumni chapter events, and presentations of scholarships for several M2 members during the fall semester.
Officers and past officers: m2ab-officers-history