The University of California Marching Band is one of the oldest college marching bands on the West Coast with this year being the 133rd year of our organization. The full band performs at every home football game, and, over the years, the Straw Hat Band has traveled to games as far as Alabama and Washington. The current Cal Band, under the baton of Matthew Sadowski and under the direction of a student executive committee, boasts a membership of over 200 students, and is the only band in the Pac-12 and one of the few bands in the nation that still marches traditional high-step form.
The success of the Cal Band depends upon the loyalty, devotion, and spirit of its members. Once people see the camaraderie among Cal Band members and the smiles on their faces after a performance, they soon realize that the band members find a family in their fellow marchers through their love of music.
The California Marching Band performs at all home football games, and at select away games. The California Straw Hat Band is a subgroup of the marching band which performs throughout the year at various campus and community events, in addition to Cal’s away football games, basketball games, volleyball, and other sporting events. The Cal Band has also been seen in the Super Bowl 50 Halftime show, the 2018 Warriors Parade, “Wheel of Fortune,” and has been given media exposure on numerous occasions through local radio stations, newspapers, and television stations.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for updates on what we’re doing, and check out our field shows on our YouTube channel!
The two shows featured on the right were entirely made by Cal Band student leaders — members of the Musical Activities Committee arranged the music, and members of the STUNT Committee designed and taught the visuals.
Among other responsibilities, our student-run Public Relations Committee runs all social media accounts of the Cal Band, as well as editing and uploading all field shows.
There are numerous ways to get involved in student leadership and innovation in Cal Band, creatively and administratively! Our field shows are a great representation of this student leadership, and a wonderful way to gain new skills in the band.