The Western Mustang Band (WMB) is the award-winning marching band and pep band for the University of Western Ontario

University of Western Ontario

The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...

 in London

London, Ontario

London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...

, Ontario

Ontario

Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. Its legacy began in 1938 with music faculty alumnus Don Wright (for whom the faculty is now named) and has thrived since then into the band of today. The band comprises brass

Brass instrument

A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...

, percussion, and woodwind

Woodwind instrument

A woodwind instrument is a musical instrument which produces sound when the player blows air against a sharp edge or through a reed, causing the air within its resonator to vibrate...

 instruments played by students from every faculty on campus, and is led by a colour guard and drum major

Drum Major

A drum major is the leader of a marching band, drum and bugle corps, or pipe band, usually positioned at the head of the band or corps. The drum major, who is often dressed in more ornate clothing than the rest of the band or corps, is responsible for providing commands to the ensemble regarding...

.

Unlike many American universities, it is not common for Canadian universities to have marching or pep bands and as such, the Western Mustang Band is a unique asset to the University. There is only one other university-level marching band in Canada, the Queen's Bands

Queen's Bands

The Queen's Bands, established in 1905, is the largest and oldest current university marching band in Canada. They make their home in Grant Hall on the campus of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada...

 of Queen's University

Queen's University

Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...

; the two meet head-to-head every football season, and at the Toronto Santa Claus Parade

Toronto Santa Claus Parade

The Toronto Santa Claus Parade is a Santa Claus parade held annually in mid-November in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. More than a half million people attend the parade every year. The parade starts at 12:30pm and ends approximately 3:30pm...

.

The Western Mustang Band plays at every home football game at TD Waterhouse

TD Waterhouse

TD Waterhouse is the brand used for both Canadian and British brokerages within the TD Bank Financial Group. It was also formerly used for TD's American brokerage....

 Stadium providing musical interlude between plays, playing half-time

Halftime show

A halftime show is a performance given during halftime, the period between the first and second halves, or the second and third quarters, of a sporting event. Halftime shows are not given for sports with an irregular or indeterminate number of divisions , or for sports that do not have an extended...

 and pre-game shows, as well as leading the crowd in the Western Song when the Mustangs score. The band also provides music at many basketball and hockey games. During Homecoming, the WMB leads the Homecoming Parade through the streets of London returning to Western for the Homecoming football game.

Other band activities include a variety of Santa Claus

Santa Claus

Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...

 parades, orientation week activities, and social events for the University and the community at large.

Notable achievements

• MuchMusic Video Awards
  MuchMusic Video Awards
  The MuchMusic Video Awards are annual awards presented by the Canadian music video channel MuchMusic to honour the year's best music videos....
  
   Red Carpet June 2009
• London Knights
  London Knights
  The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
  
   home playoff games Spring 2009
• NHL exhibition game September 2008
• On stage with Let's Go To War at the Virgin Festival
  Virgin Festival
  The Virgin Fest is a rock festival held in the United States and Canada, a spin-off from the V Festival held in the UK...
  
   in Toronto
  Toronto
  Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
  
   September 2008
• Montréal
  Montreal
  Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
  
   St. Patrick's Day Parade with Award for Best Out-Of-Town Unit March 2008
• On the set of Are You Smarter Than a Canadian 5th Grader?
  Are You Smarter Than a Canadian 5th Grader?
  Are You Smarter Than a Canadian 5th Grader? was a Canadian-English television game show, which began airing on October 25, 2007 on Global. The show, based on the U.S. game show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, was hosted by Canadian comedian Colin Mochrie. Five episodes were produced, and aired...
  
   October 2007
• NHL exhibition game September 2007
• Raptors
  Toronto Raptors
  The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
  
  ' Half-Time Show March 2006
• Montréal St. Patrick's Day Parade with Award for Best Band March 2006
• Children's Wish Foundation
  Children's Wish Foundation of Canada
  The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada is a Canadian charitable organization whose mission is to fulfill the wishes of children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. Founded in 1983, the foundation has chapters in every province and territory of Canada. As of 2010 has granted over 16,000...
  
   Parade October 2005
• Raptors
  Toronto Raptors
  The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
  
  ' Half-Time Show March 2005
• Montréal St. Patrick's Day Parade March 2005
• Children's Hospital
  Children's Hospital of Western Ontario
  Children's Hospital of Western Ontario is a major paediatric facility in Southwestern Ontario and handles patients unable to get care in Toronto or Ottawa.-See also:* IWK Health Centre - Nova Scotia* Hospital for Sick Children...
  
   Fundraiser November 2004
• John Williams
  John Williams
  John Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...
  
  & More Concert February 2004