Wildcat Marching Band The Wildcat Marching Band ( WMB ) is the marching band of the University of Kentucky , located in Lexington , Kentucky . The WMB performs at all UK home football games and selected away games . The WMB ' s repertoire ranges from contemporary jazz to classical favorites . Any UK student , regardless of major , is eligible for membership . The Wildcat Marching Band is directed by Scott - Lee Atchison . About the Director . Scott - Lee Atchison is the newly appointed Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Kentucky . Prior to his appointment at the University of Kentucky Mr . Atchison served as the Associate Director of Bands at Texas A & M University - Commerce where he conducted the symphonic band and concert band and taught classes in music technology , music literature , marching band techniques in addition to being the director of athletic bands . During his time at Texas A & M University – Commerce , Mr . Atchison oversaw significant growth of the marching band , more than doubling it in size and earning an invitation to perform at Texas UIL State Championships . In 2012 , Mr . Atchison was privileged to guest conduct the Texas A & M University - Commerce Wind Ensemble in performances at the CBDNA Regional Convention and Carnegie Hall . Mr . Atchison received a Masters Degree from the University of Tennessee and his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas . He recently completed his doctoral residency at the University of Washington and will soon complete the requirements for a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting . At the University of Washington he studied instrumental conducting with Tim Salzman and trumpet with Allen Vizzutti and David Gordon . While at Washington , Mr . Atchison guest conducted the Wind Ensemble during their 2007 Japan Tour . At Tennessee , Mr . Atchison was a conducting student of Dr . Gary Sousa , Dr . David Stutzenberger , and James Fellenbaum , and has had additional conducting study with John Whitwell , Eugene Corporon , Jerry Junkin , Jack Stamp , H . Robert Reynolds , Allan McMurray , Craig Kirchhoff , Richard Floyd , Frank Battisti , Ray Cramer , and Robert Halseth . At North Texas he studied trumpet with Keith Johnson and Leonard Candelaria . In 2007 , Mr . Atchison joined the instructional staff for The Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps where he served as Brass Caption Head and in 2009 The Troopers were welcomed back into the DCI Finals after a 23 - year absence . Mr . Atchison is currently the Brass Caption Head for The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps from Rosemont , Illinois and serves as an active designer and clinician with marching bands and drum corps throughout the country . Finally , Mr . Atchison is a Yamaha Performing Artist and is a contributing author for the book series A Composer ' s Insight : Thoughts , Analysis and Commentary on Contemporary Masterpieces for Wind Band ( Volume IV ) where he collaborated with Pulitzer Prize winning composer David Del Tredici on a chapter featuring his contribution to the wind band and American music . Rehearsals . Band rehearsals are scheduled on Monday , Wednesday , and Friday from 5 : 00 pm to 7 : 00 pm at Stoll Field , Shively Field , and inside of Nutter Field house . Rehearsals on home game days begin five hours before kickoff and last one to two hours . Game day rehearsals are held at Shively Field or , in case of bad weather , inside the Nutter Field House . No extra rehearsals are scheduled . Registration . Marching Band , MUC 190 , earns one credit per fall semester , which may be used as an elective in any degree program . The Wildcat Marching Band also includes a few students each year from Bluegrass Community and Technical College ( BCTC ) and Transylvania University whom do not field a marching band . Early Week . " Early Week " , as UK ' s band camp is called , is held a week and a half before classes begin and includes extensive training in marching and playing . New members and the student leadership begin a day before the rest of the returning members . The camp runs 9 : 00am to 9 : 00pm , with breaks for meals . Time is divided between learning drill on Stoll Field and having indoor music rehearsals . By the end of Early Week , all members have learned their music and drill for Pre - game and the first Halftime performance . In the evenings , there are activities sponsored by Kappa Kappa Psi Theta Epsilon and Tau Beta Sigma Eta Zeta , recent activities have included kickball , an awesome volleyball tourney at Jacobson Park , Band Olympics , and the Annual Pie in the Face competition . The band provides three meals each day , and students living in residence hall s are allowed to move in early . Travel . The band provides a pep band for every away game and travels with the full band to one away game . The Wildcat Marching Band has recently traveled to Georgia , Indiana , Vanderbilt , Ole Miss , Tennessee , LSU , Tulane , Auburn , Alabama , and Florida and has participated in bowl games , a BOA Regional Championship , a Presidential Inauguration , a World Series and professional football games . Individuals have been selected as members of the Olympic Band , the Liberty All - Collegiate Band , the Disney World All - Star Band , the Collegiate Presidential Inaugural Band , and the Rose Bowl United Way Collegiate Band . Expenses such as lodging , transportation , and meals are provided by the University of Kentucky . There is no cost to the band members . History . The first recorded marching band at UK was an unofficial " Cadet Band " led by Herman Trost , who had been a bandleader in Sherman ' s Army in the Civil War and a close friend of John Philip Sousa and was part of a group of immigrants from Germany and Prussia call the Forty - Eighters . Informally affiliated with military training , the band existed by 1893 , and possibly as early as 1889 . In 1903 , Captain George Byroade , Commandant of the Military Science department , appointed Professor Rucker as band director , creating the first official marching band at UK . In the fall of 1920 , Sgt . John J . Kennedy was hired as band director , and under his direction the band became known as " The Best Band in Dixie " . In the late 1920s , Elmer " Bromo " Sulzer founded the all - female " Co - Ed band " , for many years the only such band in the US . Mr . W . Harry Clarke introduced many new things to the band . Just before Mr . Clarke took over , the Band had suffered from low membership and some bumpy times . Within a few years , the " Marching Hundred " turned into a 200 - plus member Marching Band . The UK Band was honored during this time to perform at the 1969 Presidential Inauguration of Richard M . Nixon . The WMB has participated in bowl games , a World Series , and performed for the Cincinnati Bengals on several occasions . The band travels two or three times a year to away games and was most recently invited to perform in exhibition at the Bands of America Regional Championship in Louisville . In 2008 , the WMB participated in the opening ceremony of the Ryder Cup in Louisville . Several years ago the WMB was declared one of the " Top Bands in the South " by Southern Living . Mr . Clarke also added an Associate Director of Bands in the late 1970s . Carl C . Collins was the director of the WMB from 2008 - 2011 . The current director of the WMB , Scott - Lee Atchison , arrived in Lexington in 2012 .