The Trojan Marching Band’s drum major is Hispanic for the second time in the school’s history

The USC marching band has riveted stadiums, stages and parades with trojan energy for over a century. But, for the second time in school history, a Hispanic student is paving the field front and center as the drum major of the platinum-winning collegiate band. Jacobo Herrera is the person carrying the iconic and notable armor leading the Trojan Marching Band, also known as “The Spirit of Troy.” Herrera is not only leading the band during football games, practices and performances; he is also a first-generation college student pioneering his way through USC.

Originally from San Bernardino, California, Herrera is a third-year student at the Thornton School of Music, majoring in music industry with a minor in classical studies. Having picked up his first instrument in elementary school, Herrera instantly fell in love with playing music. The trumpet and guitar are two of his main instruments.

Herrera says his journey to USC was the result of fate, although he “almost didn’t apply [because] of the price of tuition and [because] of the demographics of the school.”

Once Herrera was accepted to USC, he thought, “There was no way you can say no to this school.”

Earlier this year, Herrera was voted by the marching band faculty and his peers to be the drum major for the 2022-2023 school year.

“I’m the second Hispanic drum major and honestly, there is nothing like it,” said Herrera. “I feel like I’m really the face for little kids like me that didn’t really think something like this was possible.”

While the band allows Herrera to showcase representation, especially within the Hispanic community, the band also allows him to see the country while doing what he already loves: playing music. The band travels with the football team to away games and participates in parades to hype up the die-hard USC fans.

Being the drum major also comes with some major responsibility for Herrera.

“Setting the example as a leader is a bit tough when you have 300 members watching you all the time, but you really just have to keep your head down and do the hard work,” Herrera said. “I really believe in servitude leadership and doing the right thing.”

During practice, Herrera serves as a teaching assistant, corrects music and is a problem solver on the field.

Dr. Vogel, the director of the marching band, says Herrera illuminates what it means to be a “leader of peers.”

“He has been growing the position. He is blazing a trail and setting a new standard for what future drum majors will be. He is just that great and is bringing the position up to him,” said Vogel.

In front of almost 80,000 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Herrera uses a ten-pound sword to stab the field before the start of every home football game. Every time he drives the sword into the ground, the crowd bursts into a frenzy of cheers.

USC is the only university in the nation that equips the drum major with a sword. And yes, the sword is real.

As the drum major, Herrera is the “field commander” and is usually positioned at the head of the band. While holding a sword, Herrera conducts the band, keeping them in tempo.

When Herrera is not practicing field commands or field stabs with his sword, you can find him playing mariachi on campus with Los Troyanos de USC. Herrera has been part of the mariachi band since his sophomore year.

“I enjoy playing with the mariachi here at USC because it’s my outlet at the end of the day while doing something with my people and for my people,” Herrera said.

He is thankful that the university has made him feel embraced as a Latino on campus.

“There is no other university that has this sort of program for Hispanics,” said Herrera. “I feel really comfortable at USC knowing that I can walk into La Casa and speak to someone in Spanish and that I can play with the mariachi and I’m playing something familiar...something I grew up with.”

As a first-generation college student, Herrera is thankful for being part of the USC Latino Alumni Association (LAA) as a scholar. The association is one of the nation’s leading Latino alumni associations devoted to the advancement of Latinx students at USC. Herrera says the association has provided him with invaluable opportunities that aid his personal and professional development and overall well-being.

While being in the limelight as a drum major, balancing his academics and everything else that comes with being a first-generation student, Herrera’s fuel is what he signifies for many others.

“I feel honored and humbled [that I am the drum major]. It means so much to me, to my family, to my people, to anyone who grew up in an urban area, and to people who grew up not even speaking English. It means so much to the little kids like me who didn’t even know what college was until their freshman year of high school; it’s a lot of honor,” Herrera said.

What moves Herrera forward is his family. Herrera’s mother, Sofia Herrera-Mata, tears up watching every one of her son’s performances.

“He doesn’t disappoint,” Herrera-Mata said. “Being the second Hispanic Drum Major at USC is an honor to be a part of even as his mom. I’m at the games. I’m in the crowd. We are seeing our little Jacobito out there doing major things for more than just his family, but for the Hispanic and Spanish-speaking community. He’s representing to other Latinos out there that if you dream it and put in the work for it, you can do it. ¡Si se puede!”

Growing up, Herrera had a full schedule – he played in the school band, led the jazz band, was the student-body president and valedictorian while working a full-time job. Herrera’s success does not surprise his mother.

“Being in his position now as a drum major wasn’t even a surprise for me. It felt like a given. He told me that when he got into USC, he was going to be in the greatest marching band – here we are now three years later,” Herrera-Mata said.

She added, “As his mother, I’m here to be his rock and his pillar to keep going and make the next generation of us go higher than our ancestors that laid the path before us. His win is our win.”

When Herrera returns home, he is always excited to see his two little sisters and his parents.

“Knowing that my mom is proud of me and that my dad is too means the world to me. On and off the field, they will be there no matter what, even if I wasn’t the drum major,” Herrera said.

Herrera wants to showcase how barriers can be broken when you work diligently and chase your passions.