UF School of Music Timeline

Music has a long history on UF's campus, from the first student music clubs in the early 1900s to the grand symphonies and the booming marching band performances of today. Take a look at this timeline and learn how music has defined its role at our university.

1907 – Men’s Glee Club founded.

1911 – Symphony Orchestra founded. 

1913 – Gator Marching Band founded.

1927– Official music program founded, director coordinated performance activities including Gator Band and Men’s Glee Club. 

1948 – Division of Music organized. 

1956 – College of Architecture & Fine Arts created with a Division of Fine Arts (Departments of Art and Music).

1967 – First annual concerto competition.

1971 – Music Building dedicated with a festival featuring American composer Aaron Copland.

1974 – Friends of Music organized.

1975 – College of Architecture & Fine Arts divided into two colleges.

1977 – Memorial Auditorium renovated with new lobby and Friends of Music Room.

1979 – Century Tower carillon dedicated.

1993 – Renovated Andrew Anderson Memorial Pipe Organ dedicated in a gala music festival.

1995 – Academic units renamed: School of Art & Art History, School of Music, Department of Theatre & Dance.

2006 – Groundbreaking for new Steinbrenner Band Hall.

2013 – Gator Band awarded Sudler Trophy by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. 

2018 – Groundbreaking for new Gator Marching Band Practice Complex.