Then, in 1909, the Maryland Agricultural College prevailed upon Mr. Levi G. Smith, a local violinist, to organize and conduct a band capable of playing for all formal ROTC functions.

He was assisted by associate directors Norman Heim, Henry Romersa and Acton Ostling Jr. Queen Elizabeth II visited the campus while touring the U.S. in 1957.

With the help of associate directors Fred Heath, Jerry Gardner, Dieter Zimmer and L. Richmond Sparks, Wakefield has led the band to be the superior ensemble it is today.

In November of that year the Mighty Sound of Maryland marched in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

The idea was met with much enthusiasm and excitement, and on September 9, 2006 the band played a New Orleans Tribute halftime show.

After finishing on the field, each member of the band took to the stands to collect donations in their shakos to help fund a service trip to New Orleans over winter break.

After a long bus ride, over 240 members of the band spent a week in New Orleans building houses with Habitat for Humanity at the Musicians' Village Project.

[2] In 2010, the Mighty Sound of Maryland won CBS's Hawaii Five-0 theme song contest, gaining a prize of $25,000 for the band program.

During pre- and post-game parades, the Mighty Sound of Maryland performs a choreographed cheer and drum cadence known as "The Truck."

[6] The Mighty Sound of Maryland pregame show begins with a double-time Tunnel Entrance into a large block on the field.

From the Terrapin shell, the band moves into an outline of the State of Maryland formation during the playing of Crown Imperial.

Midway through the piece, the world's largest Maryland State Flag, measuring about 20 yards long, is unfurled by the Dance Team.

Following Crown Imperial, the band moves under cadence to form a tunnel for the football team's entrance before exiting the field to play in the stands.

The band performs a number of popular pieces as well, with staples including Take On Me, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Seven Nation Army.

Due to the student section's improvised lyrics - and the university's concerns about sportsmanship and its image - the band was forbidden from playing the song at all football and basketball games in 2004.