History
1911
Fresno Normal School was formed. Professor Arthur G. Wahlberg was head of the music department.
1926
The first band was started. Mr. Arthur C. Forsblad was the director of the band, which consisted of 36 members.
1934
Fresno Normal School became Fresno State College. The school officially adopted its new fight song, entitled “Fight Varsity”.
1935
Sporting new uniforms, the Fresno State College band traveled to the California Pacific Exhibition in San Diego, where the feature attraction was “Fresno Day”.
1936
The Fresno State College band went to the San Francisco Bay Bridge to participate in a parade, in which they placed 4th.
1937
The first Annual Band Banquet was held at the Hotel Fresno.
1950
Elwyn Shwartz became the Director of Bands, succeeding Forsblad.
1953
Russel Howland became the Director of Bands, succeeding Schwartz.
1955
Fresno State College moved to the current location on Shaw Ave, which was the outskirts of Fresno at the time.
1956
Dr. Ralph Rea became the Director of Bands, succeeding Howland.
1957
Dean Killon became the Director of Bands, succeeding Rea.
1960
Arthur Barnes became the Director of Bands, succeeding Killon.
1964
John H. Martin became the Director of Bands, succeeding Barnes.
1968
Lawrence R. Sutherland became the Director of Bands, succeeding Martin.
1972
Fresno State College became California State University, Fresno.
1980
Frank Bibb became the associate Director of Bands and took charge of the Bulldog Marching Band. Dr. Sutherland continued to direct the Jazz Band “A” and the Wind Ensemble as Director of Bands.
1982
The marching band reached a high of 200 members.
1984
M. Scott McBride became the new Associate Director of Bands.
1991
M. Scott McBride resigned his position to become Director of Bands at Jacksonville State University in Alabama. Bill Barbour became the new director of the Bulldog Marching Band.
1992
Large budget cuts resulted in the unexpected loss of the Bulldog Marching Band program. Dr. Sutherland organized the “Spirit Band’ to perform stand tunes at games.
1993
Dr. Gary P. Gilroy was hired as the Associate Director of Bands. He installed the Bulldog Beat and restarted the Bulldog Marching Band.
1994
The growing marching band participated in the Hollywood Christmas parade.
1997
The marching band received new uniforms.
1999
The marching band received a million-dollar endowment from an anonymous donor.
2000
The marching band traveled to the UCLA away game. The marching band also traveled to the 1st Annual Silicon Valley Classic Bowl game. The Bulldogs lost against Air Force.
2001
The marching band traveled to their second consecutive Silicon Valley Classic bowl game where the Bulldogs lost to Michigan State.
2002
The marching band received new uniforms and traveled to their third consecutive Silicon Valley Classic bowl game where the Bulldogs beat Georgia Tech.
2003
David Gabrielson takes the position as Interim Director. The marching band traveled to their fourth consecutive Silicon Valley Classic bowl game where the Bulldogs defeated UCLA.
2004
The marching band traveled to the MPC Computer Bowl where the Bulldogs defeated the University of Virginia.
2005
The band traveled to USC for an away football game. The BMB traveled to Memphis for the Liberty Bowl, where the Bulldogs lost to Tulsa.
2006
Dr. Lawrence R. Sutherland retired as Director of Bands after 38 years of service to the bands at Fresno State. Dr. Gary P. Gilroy became the Director of Bands. Timothy T. Anderson became the Interim Associate Director of Bands.
Shows:
Rise of the Samurai Warrior
2007
Timothy T. Anderson was hired as Associate Director of Bands. The BMB traveled to Reno for an away game against Nevada. The band traveled to Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl in Boise. The Bulldogs beat Georgia Tech 40 - 28. SCC
Shows:
Beyond a Mediterranean Heart
2008
The marching band traveled to Pasadena, CA for an away game against UCLA. At the annual University House performance on Christmas Tree Lane, Fresno State President Dr. John D. Welty surprised the band with new uniforms
Shows:
South African Secrets
2009
The marching band added some flair to its shows with the addition of a new Dance Team. 170 members made the journey to Albuquerque for the New Mexico Bowl The Bulldogs lost to Wyoming 35-28 in double overtime.
Shows:
The Roman Gladiator
2010
The start of the 2010 season was met with great difficulty after the loss of freshman tuba player Nathan Ray. In his name, the annual Rookie of the Year award was created. Not forgetting Nathan, his tuba spot on the field was left open for the duration of the season. The band also helped the University in celebrating Fresno State's Centennial year. Centennial activities included the Centennial parade, Tailgate of the Century, and performing Centennial Tribute at the Homecoming game, which was composed by Fresno State Alumnus John Bliss. After seven home games and one away trip to San Jose State, the BMB traveled to Boise to support the football team in the Humanitarian Bowl.
Shows:
Into A New Galaxy
2011
Timothy T. Anderson resigned to accept the position of director of the Minuteman Marching Band at UMass. Fresno State alumnus and former graduate assistant Adam Wilke was chosen as the Interim Associate Director of Bands. To kick off the year, the entire band traveled to San Francisco to support the Bulldogs in Candlestick Park against Cal. To conclude the season, 100 members of the BMB traveled to San Diego to support the Bulldogs in against San Diego State.
Shows:
Home of the Brave
Fiesta!
Malaguena
Dreams & Realities
The Music of Chuck Mangione
2012
Dr. David Fullmer was hired as the Associate Director of Bands. Adam Wilke accepted a band director position at James Logan High School in Union City, CA. The Bulldogs started the season at home and finished at home, and in the process claiming a share of the Mountain West Conference champion title. A three-way share of the title would lead to the Mountain West Conference creating two divisions and a championship game. The Bulldog Marching Band performed For the first time in the venue’s history, the Bulldog Marching Band in its entirety performed in the stands and at halftime at a Fresno State Men’s Basketball game. A small group of BMB members traveled to Honolulu to support the Bulldogs at the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl against SMU.
Shows:
Screamers!
Fiesta 2012
How the West Was ONE!
Armed Forces Salute
2013
Dr. David Fullmer resigned to accept the Director of Bands position at Utah Valley University. Unable to find an interim director in time for the season, Dr. Gary P Gilroy stepped in as Director of Athletic Bands. The band supported the football team to an 11-2 season, winning the inaugural Mountain West Conference Championship football game against Utah State. The band also traveled to the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl against USC. The Bulldogs lost 45-20.
Shows:
Tribute to the Longhairs
Armed Forces Salute
Romeo and Juliet: The Untold Zombie Apocalypse
2014
Steve McKeithen was hired as Associate Director of Bands. The band traveled to Boise to support the football team in the Mountain West Conference Championship football game. The band traveled to Honolulu to support the football team in the Hawaii Bowl.
Shows:
The Streets of Old Chicago
Armed Forces Salute
La Corrida de Torros
2015
The band performed at 6 home football games and traveled to San Diego to support the football team against San Diego State. The band also performed at the San Diego Chargers game. This season saw the return of Band Day with over 1,000 high school students. The band also performed for prelims and finals of the Western Band Association (WBA) Championships hosted in Bulldog Stadium. The band teamed up with Valley Children’s Hospital for an unforgettable halftime show that featured interaction from Valley Children’s Hospital patients and the Valley Children’s Hospital Kid Captain of the Game.
Shows:
Summer Mixtape
Band Day
Wicked
American Bands
Children’s Show
2016
The band performed at 6 home football games and traveled to Reno to support the football team against Nevada. The band also performed at the Oakland Raiders game. Through a partnership with the Hunter’s Hope Foundation, the band helped make 16-year old Daren Richardson’s dream of performing with the Bulldog Marching Band come true. Daren passed away in the spring of 2017 and a perpetual honorary member award was created the following season in his remembrance.
Shows:
Old Skool (featuring the music of: )
The Music of Santana
The Music of Queen
Armed Forces Salute
Band Day: Pop Hits (featuring: Uptown Funk, Can’t Stop The Feeling, and Dynamite)
2017
The band performed at 6 home football games and traveled to Boise to support the football team in the Mountain West Conference Championship football game. The band traveled to Honolulu to support the football team in a win at the Hawaii Bowl. The Bulldog Marching Band was recognized by the College Band Directors National Association as one of the top eight college marching bands in the country with the 2017 Ensemble of Excellence award.
Shows:
The Music of Chicago
KarnEvil
Band Day
The TimeOut Movie (in partnership with Fresno State’s MCJ Department)
2018
The band performed at 6 home football games and traveled to UCLA where the Bulldogs defended their win streak at the Rose Bowl. The band also traveled to Boise to support the football team in claiming the conference title in the Mountain West Conference Championship football game where the Bulldogs battled some of the toughest weather conditions they have ever faced. The band traveled to Las Vegas to support the football team to a Mitsubishi Las Vegas Bowl win. Members of the BMB also performed at the 2018 E3 Expo to introduce the launch of Just Dance 2019.
Shows:
Monsters of Rock
Soñando con el Pasado
Beat Cancer!
Music from The Greatest Showman
2019
The band performed at 6 home football games and traveled to USC for the season opener, and debuted new uniforms fully funded by the Office of the President.
Shows:
For the Birds
Piano Men
Armed Forces Salute
Band Day: the Music of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no 2020 edition of the Bulldog Marching Band. Select members represented Fresno State in the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) virtual college band which was featured in conjunction with the 2020 College Football Playoff Championship Game.
2021
The band performed at 6 home football games and traveled to Albuquerque to support the football team to a New Mexico Bowl win. The band announced it would be a participant in the 2023 Rose Parade as well as the 2023 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland with other marching bands in the Mountain West Conference.
Shows:
Pop Divas
A Patriotic Salute with Boston Brass
Pedal to the Metal
Band Day
2022
The band performed at 6 home football games and traveled to USC for the season opener. The band also traveled to the Jimmy Kimmel Bowl in Los Angeles to cheer on the Bulldogs to victory. The band performed in the 2023 Rose Parade. Members of the BMB teamed up with marching band members from Air Force, Boise State, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State, and Wyoming as the Mountain West All-Star band to perform in the 2023 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland.
Shows:
The Boys Are Back
ClassiCool
Band Day
2023
Coming soon!