The bands at the University of Louisville enjoy a rich legacy. Whether considering the unique and longstanding tradition of our marching band as the official band of the Kentucky Derby or the groundbreaking commissions of the 1950s which led to Psalm for Band by Vincent Persichetti, Flag of Stars by Gordon Jacob and Chester Overture by William Schumann, our bands have been vital contributors to America’s musical culture. Today’s University of Louisville Bands continue to build on that heritage through a commitment to shape the future, with performances in such venues as the College Band Directors National Conference, the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Conference in Killarney, Ireland and the Jungfrau Music Festival in Interlaken, Switzerland. Continuing the commitment to generating significant new repertoire, there have been three recent commissions with Grawemeyer Award winners, Karel Husa, Sebastian Currier and Brett Dean. Currently, more than 300 students representing widely varied academic disciplines participate in our programs. They find their musical homes in one of three concert bands, the marching band or the university-community band.