Our History
The Trojan Marching Band is known throughout the country as one of college football’s most spirited and innovative bands and around the world for its frequent appearances in Hollywood. Founded in 1880, the Trojan Marching Band (TMB) is led by Dr. Jacob Vogel, in his fourth football season as director. Featuring over 300 passionate students from nearly every major at USC, the TMB is a prominent representative of the university and a tireless supporter of Trojan athletics.
Twice named the “Best Band in College Football” by USA Today, the Trojan Marching Band has attended over 450 consecutive USC Football games – at home or on the road. A portion of the TMB follows the Trojans to every game with the entire band traveling biennially to the Midwest for the Notre Dame contest. The Rose Bowl has hosted the TMB 34 times, by far the most of any college band. The TMB’s commitment to USC Athletics is not limited to the gridiron, though. From volleyball to soccer, baseball to rowing, the band is there to root the Trojans on to victory, attending over 85 USC sports events each year.
Because of its frequent exposure on the small and silver screens, the Trojan Marching Band has become known as “Hollywood’s Band.” Recently, the band appeared in Olivia Rodrigo’s SOUR Prom concert film and was slimed on the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. Past roles include such films as The Way Back, The Naked Gun, and the Oscar-winning Forrest Gump. Indeed, the Academy Awards telecast itself has featured the band three times, most recently in 2009. The same year, the TMB appeared on the 51st Grammy Awards, performing with Radiohead in the most critically-acclaimed performance of the night.
Among the TMB’s other television appearances were guest spots on The Masked Singer, Holey Moley, The Goldbergs, The Voice, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Dating back to John Phillip Sousa’s appearance with the band in 1924, the band has continuously attracted famous guest artists. Henry Mancini, Diana Ross, Slash, Jason Derulo, and Dexter Holland of The Offspring have all appeared with the Trojan Marching Band. The TMB made its own guest appearances with the rock group Fleetwood Mac on the hit 1979 album Tusk and reunion album The Dance in 1997. Combined, the records sold over seven million copies, earning the band two platinum albums, a feat unmatched by any other college band. In 2010 the TMB also became the first marching band to play at Coachella, taking the stage with the alt rock band Coheed and Cambria. The band has returned multiple times since, performing with ODESZA in 2015, Major Lazer in 2016, and both The Rose and Atarashii Gakko! this past year.
The Trojan Marching Band is USC’s goodwill ambassadors to the world, having visited 19 countries on six continents. The band has performed at six World Expos; the 2003 and 2004 International Chinese New Year’s Parade in Hong Kong; on the Great Wall of China in 2004; at the Roman Colosseum in 2006; on Rio de Janeiro’s Ipanema Beach in 2008; and in London’s Trafalgar Square in 2012. More recently, the band was the first American group to perform in Macao’s Chinese New Year parade in 2016, and toured Central Europe in 2023.
The Trojan Marching Band was the core of the 800-strong All-American College Marching Band that performed at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games. Recently, the band performed at an L.A. Rams playoff game and NASCAR’s Clash at the Coliseum. The band has also appeared at three Super Bowls, the World Series, the World Cup, and each summer at the Hollywood Bowl.
In 2020, Dr. Arthur C. Bartner retired after 51 years directing the Trojan Marching Band. His successor Dr. Vogel assumed the position of director following a 12-year tenure with the program in which he served as associate director and arranger.