“There is already such a great system in place here, so this year I hope to continue the excellent traditions of the MUMB,” said Humfeld, who previously worked as interim director of the Drake University marching band and was a graduate assistant for the University of Kansas Marching Jayhawks.
Previous director Stephen Lytle, who had been with the Miami Department of Music since 2009, left the Butler County university earlier this year to become the associate director of bands at West Virginia University.
For the first time, Miami will be hosting the Bands of America Regional Championship at Yager Field. Bands of America is the largest high school marching band competition in the country, and Miami will host 30 bands and play an exhibition show at the competition.
The Miami University Marching Band show this year is called “Latin Sensations” and includes five covers of songs from Latino artists like Enrique Igelsias and Arturo Sandoval. The band is estimated to have more than 270 students this year, an increase from previous years, according to Humfeld.
“I’m very excited to see what we can do with this many people on the field,” field commander Mitch Hardy said. Hardy, 21, is going into his third year as a student conductor of the band.
The Miami University Marching Band will play at six football games this season, including the Battle for the Bell at the University of Cincinnati on Sept. 8.
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