USC’s Trojan Marching Band, also known as the “Spirit of Troy,” has been around since the school was founded in 1880. Its uniforms feature the school’s rich colors, cardinal and gold… and the band can usually be heard practicing on school evenings throughout campus.
Get to know a little more about the band’s history, tradition, and legacy at USC.
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The Spirit of Troy is a staple to the Trojan community.
It can be heard performing at most sporting events including football and men’s basketball games.
The band was under the direction of Dr. Arthur C. Bartner for 50 years until he announced his retirement in 2019. He led the band to multiple performances with well-known artists like Fleetwood Mac and was inducted into USC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.
Professor Jacob Vogel was excited to become the band’s new director, although this is not his first time with the Spirit of Troy.
JACOB VOGEL: I’ve been working with the band since 2009, and so I came in fall of 2009 as a teaching assistant.
Vogel says that the band plays a very important role for the campus community and is integral to the USC college experience.
From performing at school events like new student convocation to ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and even at weddings… the band is more than just a school band.
Many call it “Hollywood’s band” and Vogel says its impact and traditions are long-standing even before Dr. Bartner took lead.
VOGEL: There are a lot of traditions that Dr. Bartner himself inherited.
Professor Vogel is ensuring that Dr. Bartner’s legacy fights on.
VOGEL: I think the most important part of his legacy that I’ve really taken, taken a lot of time to think about is this idea of innovation. I want to make sure that I have that attitude of innovation and that I’m always thinking about how can we improve what we’re doing, stay on top of current culture with what we’re doing, and at the same time offer enriching musical experience for the students involved.
Current band general manager, Niven Jayanthi, is a fourth year business administration and mathematics major.
Jayanthi has been with the band since his freshman year and says that the atmosphere of the band is always high energy.
NIVEN JAYANTHI: I just, you know, it’s kind of like the Big Spirit Group on campus where, you know, we kind of take it as this as a responsibility to, you know, be the kind of lead on that.
Fourth-year senior Emily Tutnick … the band’s only twirler... has wanted to perform for USC’s marching band since she was a little girl. She has always loved performing and takes a lot of pride in her role.
EMILY TUTNICK: I take it very seriously. I believe it takes a lot of focus and dedication and drive, but also a lot of passion for what you’re doing. So I like to be able to use all of those factors and really just bring my love and passion for the university and my love and passion for what I do as a sport and art to life.
The Spirit of Troy is self-proclaimed as “the greatest marching band in the history of the universe” and Vogel, Jayanthi, and Tutnick all agree... objectively, of course.
JAYANTHI: We just we have the most unique uniforms. We have the most difficult marching style and one of the most unique marching styles. Our shows look awesome. I mean, you know, our drumline perform with Olivia Rodrigo in one of her music videos is crazy. You know, nobody else can say that. So, yeah, so we just kind of earned a league of our own.
If you haven’t already…. make sure to catch the Spirit of Troy performing, throw up your “V” for victory and Fight On!