Montana State’s Spirit of the West achieves decade

Fourteen years ago, Montana State University’s Spirit of the West Marching Band stood at 73 students. Today, that number has more than doubled.

The marching band reached a decade-long goal in July of registering at least 200 members representing more than 20 states and 40 majors. For 41 years, Spirit of the West has performed for Bobcat football and basketball games, campus events and community celebrations.

“In another 10 years, in 2035, I want to say, ‘Hey, do you remember 2025 and what a great year that was? Let me tell you about the 2025 band,’” said Nathan Stark, MSU’s director of bands.

A larger band creates a bolder sound and allows for more complex marching choreography, Stark said. With about 215 students, he hopes to stretch the band’s formations between opposite ends of MSU’s