The Band of Blue boasts a new look, new conductor, and the same unmistakable spirit
The first thing most people notice on game day is the sound. It rises from the field in waves, steady and confident, long before the first snap. For generations of MTSU football fans, that sound has carried out a simple promise. The Band of Blue is here. The Blue Raider spirit is alive. And something memorable is about to happen.
That promise began in 1957, when a young music educator named Joseph T. Smith arrived at what was then Middle Tennessee State College. Smith founded the Band of Blue that same year, building it from the ground up. He believed a band could be a point of pride for the campus, a home for students from every major, and a living symbol of the institution’s ambition.
Smith set that tone for decades. He built up the band, raised its reputation, and created experiences students still talk about. Smith, who retired in 1993 and died in 2014, also launched the Contest of Champions in 1962, a high school marching band competition that became one of the most respected in the region. His influence was so profound that the rehearsal hall in the Wright Music Building bears his name. Every director who followed stepped into a program shaped by his vision.
One of the leaders who carried that legacy forward was Craig Cornish, whose 23-year tenure defined the modern era of the Band of Blue. Cornish guided the group through years of remarkable growth, including a season when membership reached 380 students, the largest in school history.
Cornish strengthened the modern identity of the ensemble and nurtured a culture that valued camaraderie as much as musical precision. His retirement in early 2025 marked the end of a meaningful chapter, but not the end of the values he reinforced daily.
“Hopefully [the students] took away my love of music, maybe a little bit of my work ethic, my desire for excellence,” Cornish said. “And hopefully they’ll take away that I want them to do it having fun. There’s no reason to be miserable while you’re trying to do something good.”
When he walked away from the field for the last time as director, nearly 200 alumni returned to march beside him. “That was one of the most emotional days I’ve had in a long time,” Cornish said. “They came, they hugged me, they said congratulations. It touched my heart in so many ways.”
Now, the lineage continues with Bryan Braue, who stepped onto the podium in Fall 2025 to lead the Band of Blue through his first season as director. By the time the band took the field for the season’s home opener, the transition felt complete. Braue had already put his stamp on the ensemble and leaned into the family-centered culture that has defined the band for nearly seven decades.
Those musicians know they’re making magic happen on game day.
From Every Field to One Family
When he moved to middle Tennessee, Braue says, the spirit of the region struck him immediately.
“The family atmosphere and the friendliness of the Nashville metro stood out. My wife and I moved here and noticed how kind everyone was. People are very genuine,” he said. He calls MTSU “a great community” and says he loves working with “incredible students.”
Braue’s path to the podium included 15 years of collegiate marching experience. After earning his bachelor’s degree at Stetson University, he completed a master’s degree at the University of South Florida, earned his doctorate at the University of Florida, and then led the band program at the University of Texas–Permian Basin.
“I fell in love with working at the collegiate level and shaping the next generation of teachers,” he said. “My wife, Michelle, and I are very happy to be here in Murfreesboro. Working with the Band of Blue is one of the most special parts of my job responsibilities.”
Last fall’s first season gave him a front-row view of the program’s foundation.
“Students come from so many different fields and areas across campus,” he said. “But they are united as one band program, supporting our athletes and our University.”
Braue’s goals reflect both tradition and growth. He would love to increase band numbers to 285–300 students in the next five years; the COVID-19 pandemic “took a toll.” Just as important, he wants to maintain the culture.
“The program is based on family. That’s important to me,” the new Band of Blue director said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to work with students and help shape their lives.”
Sound and Lightning for the Fans
The season also brought something fans could see the moment the band took the field: new uniforms, bringing a fresh look that blends tradition with modern design. The updated uniforms carry the classic MT paired with MTSU’s mascot Lightning on the chest. A bold MT emblem spans the back, and the uniform is accented with a sash that goes down the side. While the main band uniforms are primarily blue, the drum majors stand apart in solid black.
The uniforms reflect not just a design shift, but a program stepping confidently into its next era.
From the stands, Jennifer Snodgrass, the new director of MTSU’s School of Music, sees the energy these changes bring.
“There is nothing quite like game day and watching the band take the field. You can feel the energy from the fans, from the students, and from the band members themselves,” she said.
Steps to Support Future Generations
That sense of belonging is why alumni continue investing in the program. Jeremy Baxter-Jenkins, a 2006 graduate, marched under Cornish and recently helped establish the Band of Blue Excellence Scholarship with fellow alumni. This scholarship honors Cornish’s legacy, as well as the contributions of past and future directors of the Band of Blue, by providing private scholarship support for current band members.
“I was one of the first freshmen to meet Professor Cornish in 2002, and my four years in the Band of Blue truly shaped who I am today,” Baxter-Jenkins said.
He was not a Music major, but the program changed his life. An Advertising-Public Relations student with a Political Science minor, Baxter-Jenkins now works as senior executive producer, AWS Marketing, Amazon Web Services Inc.
“When I think about where I am now in my career and my personal life, I can trace so much of it back to what I learned in this program,” he said. Now, he gives so other students can find the same footing. “This scholarship removes barriers so students can focus on growth rather than worrying about costs.”
Baxter-Jenkins believes the program builds qualities that last. “Students in the Band of Blue develop skills like teamwork, discipline, leadership, and resilience. When we remove obstacles, we’re giving more students the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
Although the new uniforms came through institutional support, Baxter-Jenkins stresses that alumni and donor contributions remain vital for instruments, travel, recruitment, enrichment, and scholarships.
“Anyone who was part of the Band of Blue understands the lasting impact of this program,” he said. “These students represent the future, and they’re working hard. When we invest in them, we’re continuing a tradition of support that helped shape us. It creates a ripple effect.”
The Band of Blue stands at an important moment. It carries a legacy nearly 70 years old. It remembers Smith, who built the foundation. It honors Cornish, who strengthened the culture. And it moves forward with Braue, whose first season has already shown his clarity and purpose.
With a season under wraps in the new era, fans can long remember the sound, the energy, the new look, and the unmistakable identity of a band that has defined MTSU spirit for generations.
Because the Band of Blue has always been more than music. It is a home, a space to be mentored, and a proving ground. And with continued support, it will remain a place where students learn who they are and who they can become.
To support the Band of Blue Excellence Scholarship, visit mtsu.edu/supportbandofblue
Where Every Note Counts: The School of Music Scholarship Campaign
This new effort will raise scholarship support for student in the School of Music and the Band of Blue. Scholarships give talented MTSU musicians the chance to study, perform, and grow without the weight of financial barriers.
To find out more or to make a contribution, please contact Meredith Kerr, director of development for the College of Liberal Arts, at meredith.kerr@mtsu.edu or 615-898-5223.
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