This Is Your Band!
Friendships & Teamwork. Excitement & Energy. Leadership & Service.
Become part of a growing OWU tradition open to all students! The Marching Bishops use a hybrid of corps and show band marching traditions featuring woodwinds, brass, percussion, and color guard. Our music style features rock, blues, hip hop, eclectic punk, and upbeat high-energy tunes.
***This page will be going through several updates as the 2024 Season is planned and finalized! If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact Dr. Lizak at crlizak@owu.edu!***
Fun Facts About The Marching Bishops:
- Student Leaders Ready To Help!
The secret of OWU's success is our dedicated students eager to help each other succeed. The Marching Bishops are fortunate to have an outstanding team of student leaders ready to help new band members thrive at OWU.
- Great Teachers!
Leading the Marching Bishops is Dr. Chris Lizak, who also serves as the percussion instructor at OWU. Dr. Lizak is assisted by Mrs. Melissa Grimes, and Ms. Kortney Reed serves as the color guard instructor.
- Manageable Practice Times!
We have three rehearsals per week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4:30-6:00 PM ending in mid-November. Our practice times do not overlap with any courses, but if a class or lab runs late we can make it work. We'll always be done in time for dinner, studying, and evening activities.
- Gigs & Games!
The Marching Bishops provide fun-filled performances at Saturday home football games as well as select special events both on and off campus. The tentative 2024 Marching Bishops Performance Calendar includes current plans for when and where we'll throughout Ohio this fall.
- Band Camp: (see dates details below for 2024!)
Be there! Band Camp begins approximately two weeks before the start of school and is provided at no extra charge for all band members. This is when we'll establish our marching fundamentals, rehearse music, set drill, and most importantly - we'll form friendships that last a lifetime.
Once all on-campus students are moved-in, the general band camp schedule runs 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM including three meals, indoor/outdoor music and marching rehearsals, and social activities. A specific itinerary will be released about a week before band camp with instructions on when/where to report for each activity.
- All Drumline and Student Leadership Team: move-in on August 2nd (1 - 4 PM); pre-camp begins August 3
- All Veteran and New Members: move-in on August 5 (Time TBA); camp begins August 6
