band.nd.edu

The Notre Dame Band is open to enrolled students from the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, and Holy Cross College, regardless of major or field of study. Students from around the world participate. To join or get more information, complete the Notre Dame Band Application/Information Form on band.nd.edu.

Who is eligible

According to the band's own site, membership in the "Band of the Fighting Irish" draws from three institutions:

The band states its members come from "all over the world and enrolled in every field of study" at these schools. In other words, your major does not restrict participation—the common thread is enrollment at one of the three institutions.

How to apply or get information

1. Go to band.nd.edu and locate the Notre Dame Band Application/Information Form.
2. Complete the form to either apply to the band or request more information. The site describes this as the route for anyone who "want[s] to participate in the Notre Dame Band."
3. Submit and wait for follow-up from the band.

The site does not publish a separate audition timeline, deadline, or required materials beyond the form itself, so treat the form as your first contact point and expect the band to provide next steps.

If you're visiting campus

Prospective students who want to speak with someone from the band in person can fill out the prospective student visit form. The band says it will then contact you to arrange a time. This is a separate form from the application/information form, so use it specifically when you'll be on campus and want a conversation.

What to expect as a member

The site's description gives a sense of the experience: performing at the "Concert on the Steps," marching to Notre Dame Stadium in front of thousands of fans, and making an entrance before 80,000 people on game day. The band also performs in concert settings—for example, a Symphonic Winds & Band Concert at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center—and maintains a newsletter and news page for updates.

Practical notes

• No pricing or fee information appears on the page, so don't assume participation is free or paid based on the site alone; ask via the form.
• No audition details are published on the page; the form is the stated channel for both applying and requesting information.
• Supporting the band is separate from joining: gifts to the O'Brien Band Fund are handled through the site's giving link, not the application form.

If your goal is simply to understand what band.nd.edu is, it's the official site of the Notre Dame Band program, home of the "Band of the Fighting Irish," and it serves as the entry point for prospective members, visitors, and supporters.

The Notre Dame Band site lists two main kinds of public events: football game-day performances at Notre Dame Stadium and concert performances, such as the Symphonic Winds & Band Concert at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. Each listing on the site includes a date, and concert listings also give a start and end time and a venue. The events shown are a snapshot of what is posted on band.nd.edu, so check the site's Events section for the current schedule before making plans.

Football game-day events

The band's game-day listings are tied to the home football schedule at Notre Dame Stadium. The site describes the full game-day experience: the "Concert on the Steps," the march to the stadium, the parade in front of fans, and the entrance in front of a stadium crowd. The posted events reflect that role.

These are listed as all-day events, which fits a game day rather than a single performance slot. If you want to see the band specifically, the site's description of game day points to the pregame concert and the march to the stadium as the moments where the band is most visible outside the stadium itself.

Concert performances

The site also lists standalone concerts by band ensembles. The example posted is:

• Symphonic Winds & Band Concert — Sun, Nov 22, 3:00 pm–4:30 pm, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.

Unlike the football listings, this one has a defined start and end time and an indoor venue, so it is the clearest option if you want a seated concert rather than a game-day atmosphere.

How to use the listings

1. Open band.nd.edu and go to the Events section.
2. Note the date, time, and location for each listing. Football events are marked "All Day" at Notre Dame Stadium; concerts give a time window and a named venue.
3. Use "View all events" to see listings beyond the few shown on the main page.
4. Re-check close to the date, since the posted events are only those currently listed on the site.

The site does not state ticket requirements, admission rules, or whether events are open to the public beyond what each listing shows, so confirm those details through the venue or the band before attending.

Related pages worth knowing

• News: the site posts newsletters and announcements, such as the Fall 2026 (October) Newsletter and Summer 2026 (July) Newsletter, plus news of Paul Popiel being named Kenn and Pamela Ricci Director of Bands and professor of music at Notre Dame. These can signal upcoming activity but are not event listings.
• Prospective students: if you are considering the band rather than just watching it, the site provides a prospective student visit form to arrange a campus conversation with someone from the band, and a Band Application/Information Form to apply or request more information. The band includes students from the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, and Holy Cross College, enrolled in every field of study.
• Giving: gifts to the O'Brien Band Fund support band members throughout the year.

If you're visiting Notre Dame's campus and want to talk with someone from the band, the site directs you to fill out the prospective student visit form. After you submit it, the band says it will contact you to set up a time. This is the route the band itself describes for prospective students who want a conversation during a campus visit.

Who this is for

The form is described for prospective students visiting campus who wish to talk to someone from the Notre Dame Band. It is a way to arrange a conversation, not an application to join the program. If your goal is to apply or get general information about participating, the site points to a separate Notre Dame Band Application/Information Form instead.

How to arrange the visit

1. Plan around a campus visit. The form is framed for students who are already coming to campus, so have your visit dates in mind before you submit.
2. Fill out the prospective student visit form on band.nd.edu. The site does not publish the form's individual fields, so expect to provide basic contact and visit details.
3. Wait for the band to reach out. The site states the band will contact you to set up a time. The scheduling happens through that follow-up, not automatically at submission.
4. Confirm the time before you travel. Since the band arranges the meeting after reviewing your form, treat the visit as unconfirmed until you hear back.

What to know before you submit

• Submit early. The band schedules after receiving the form, so leaving it until the week of your visit may not leave enough time to arrange a meeting.
• This is not the application. Students interested in joining should use the Application/Information Form. The site notes the Band of the Fighting Irish includes students from the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, and Holy Cross College, enrolled in every field of study.
• Pair the visit with an event if you can. The band's events calendar lists football game-day performances at Notre Dame Stadium and concerts such as Symphonic Winds & Band Concert at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. Seeing the band in action can make the conversation more useful, though event dates and details should be checked on the site.

Common snags

• Submitting the wrong form. If you want to join rather than visit, the visit form is not the right entry point.
• Assuming a meeting is booked. The site describes a contact-and-schedule step, so don't count on a specific time until the band confirms it.
• Looking for a phone number or walk-in option. The site's stated path is the form; it does not describe drop-in meetings.

band.nd.edu is the official website of the Notre Dame Band, the University of Notre Dame's band program, home of the "Band of the Fighting Irish." It is the place to go if you want to learn about the program, apply or request information about joining, arrange a visit as a prospective student, follow band news and events, or give to the band. It is an informational and recruitment site for the program, not a ticketing or merchandise store.

What the Site Covers

The site is organized around the band program itself and the people who want to take part in it or follow it.

The Band of the Fighting Irish

The centerpiece is the "Band of the Fighting Irish," which the site describes through the experience of a fall game day: performing at the "Concert on the Steps," marching to Notre Dame Stadium, and making an entrance in front of 80,000 fans. According to the site, the band is made up of students from around the world enrolled in every field of study at the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, and Holy Cross College.

Participation and Prospective Students

The site provides two distinct paths for people interested in the band:

• Apply or request information: Fill out the Notre Dame Band Application/Information Form to apply or receive more information.
• Visit as a prospective student: Fill out the prospective student visit form, and the band will contact you to arrange a time to talk with someone from the program.

News

The news section lists band updates. Examples shown on the site include:

Events

The events section lists football game-day appearances and concerts. Examples shown on the site include:

Giving

The site explains that gifts to the O'Brien Band Fund help band members "look and sound their very best throughout the year," with a link to make a gift.

Who It's For

• Prospective and current students considering or participating in the band at Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, or Holy Cross College.
• Families and visitors who want to understand the program or arrange a campus conversation with band staff.
• Fans and alumni following game-day performances, concerts, and band news.
• Donors interested in supporting the band through the O'Brien Band Fund.

What to Do on the Site

1. If you want to join or learn more: Complete the Notre Dame Band Application/Information Form linked from the site.
2. If you're visiting campus: Submit the prospective student visit form so the band can schedule a time to meet.
3. If you want to attend a performance: Check the Events section for game-day appearances at Notre Dame Stadium and concerts such as those at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.
4. If you want to support the band: Use the giving link to contribute to the O'Brien Band Fund.

The site does not list pricing, ticket sales, or membership fees, so treat it as a program information and contact hub rather than a transaction page.

Supporters can give to the Notre Dame Band through the O'Brien Band Fund, the giving option described on band.nd.edu. According to the band's website, gifts to this fund allow Notre Dame Band members to "look and sound their very best throughout the year." The site directs donors to a "Make a gift now" link on the band's page; it does not publish fund amounts, processing details, or any cost to give, so those specifics should be confirmed on the giving page itself.

What the O'Brien Band Fund Supports

The stated purpose is direct support of the student musicians: helping the Band of the Fighting Irish present itself at its best across the year. That covers the band's public appearances, which the site describes as spanning campus traditions like the "Concert on the Steps," the march to Notre Dame Stadium, and performances before crowds of 80,000 at football games. The band draws students from the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, and Holy Cross College, enrolled in every field of study.

The site does not break the fund down into line items (instruments, uniforms, travel, scholarships), so treat "look and sound their very best" as the official description rather than an itemized budget.

How to Make a Gift

1. Go to band.nd.edu.
2. Locate the giving section, headed "Giving to the Band of the Fighting Irish."
3. Follow the "Make a gift now" link to reach the giving page.
4. Complete the gift through whatever method that page offers.

The band site itself does not state accepted payment methods, minimum or suggested amounts, tax documentation, or whether an account is required. Confirm those on the linked giving page before you commit.

Other Ways to Support or Get Involved

Giving is one route; the site also lists ways to connect with the program:

If your interest is attending rather than donating, the events list is the practical starting point; if you are a student, the application form is. Donors who want their gift tied to a specific purpose should ask the band or development staff directly, since the public page describes only the general fund.