BYU bands and ensembles

The first band at the original Brigham Young Academy (BYA) was organized in about 1900 by Albert Miller (birth name Ernest Ludwig Adelbert Muller, lived 1875–1906), a German Mormon who was recruited to be on the music faculty at BYA by Anthony C. Lund in 1901.

In 1906, after Miller died, Robert Sauer (1873–1944), a German convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, became the director of the BYU band.

Known today as the "Power of the Wasatch", The BYU Cougar Marching Band was first organized in 1908 by Robert Sauer who wrote the well known tune "When It's Springtime in the Rockies".

Since then the band has been led under the direction of Elkington, Bruce Bastian, Dan Bachelder, David Blackinton, and Donald Peterson.

In 2011 a permanent rehearsal tower, with an integrated sound system and two observation levels, was built in the parking lot for use by the marching band.

The band puts on pregame and halftime shows at all home football games and will generally travel with the team versus in state rivals and for postseason bowl appearances.

To become part of the BYU Cougar Marching Band, potential participants must be actively attending Brigham Young University.

[4] Through their music they help pump up the crowd and create the excitement found in the college hoops atmosphere at the Marriott Center.

The premier band in this group is Synthesis which was founded by K. Newell Dayley and is currently directed by Ray Smith.

The Jazz Ensemble functions as the training group for Synthesis and is currently directed by Mark Ammons.

Smaller groups in different styles include Q'd Up the Faculty Jazz quintet that as of 2011 consisted of Ray Smith, Steve Lindeman, Matt Larson, Jay Lawrence and Ron Brough.