The Trojan Marching Band — known as “The Spirit of Troy” — is the most dynamic and innovative collegiate band in the nation. Named among the 8 best marching bands in the country by USA Today, the band is one of USC's most visible public relations tools.

Established in 1880, the band has played for seven Presidents and has appeared in numerous movies (including “Forrest Gump” and “The Naked Gun”), commercials and television shows (including twice at the Academy Awards and with OutKast’s Andre 3000 at the 2004 Grammy Awards, plus on “L.A. Law,” “Hollywood Squares” and MTV’s “Rock and Jock”). The band even earned platinum albums when it recorded the title track of the rock group Fleetwood Mac’s popular 1979 album, “Tusk,” and was on the group’s live 1996 reunion album, “The Dance.” And it has produced several albums of its own music (featuring the well-known “Conquest” and “Fight On”).

Among the many famous musicians who have played in the band as students was Herb Alpert of the Tijuana Brass (he was in the cornet section). And among the various guest artists who have appeared with the band were John Phillip Souza (in 1924), Henry Mancini, Quincy Jones, Chuck Mangione, Leonard Bernstein, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, John Wayne, Kenny Rogers, Tower of Power, Bozo the Clown (Larry Harmon) and The Offspring’s Dexter Holland.

A typical football halftime show by the band (with precision drills, special musical charts and dance routines) takes more than 100 hours to prepare. The band marches about 90 miles a year while traveling across the land supporting every USC athletic team. In fact, it hasn’t missed a Trojan football game, at home or away, since 1987 (its trips to the Bay Area and Notre Dame are much anticipated). The band makes more than 300 engagements each year, including at professional sporting events throughout Southern California.

Approximately 20 percent of its members are music majors, with almost every school and department represented among the balance. Now 270-plus members strong, the Trojan Marching Band has tripled in size since Dr. Arthur C. Bartner became its director in 1969 (he is assisted by long-time arranger Tony Fox). A graduate of Michigan, Bartner brought with him a creative approach and the unique, contemporary “drive-it” style of marching.

Nationally-renowned, Bartner directed the 800-member 1984 Olympic All-American College Marching Band (125 bandsmen were from USC) in the opening and closing ceremonies at the Games. It was the second time the band was involved with the Olympics, as it formed the 10th Olympic Braid in the 1932 Los Angeles Games. The band has also performed at 4 Super Bowls, the 1988 World Series, the 1994 World Cup and the 2002 NHL All Star Weekend.

Bartner was also Director of Bands for the Japan Bowl in Tokyo and directed the All-American College Marching Band at Disneyland. During its summer vacations, the band travels the world as goodwill ambassadors of USC. In 1986, Bartner and 40 band members were part of the ceremonies of Liberty Weekend at the refurbished Statue of Liberty. In 1988, he brought the band to Australia to perform at festivities for that country’s bicentennial and at World Expo 88 (one of three World Expositions it has appeared, along with Spain in 1992 and Portugal in 1998). The band also performed at the 50th anniversary of D-Day in France, toured Germany in 1990 to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall and in 2003 was the first American marching band to perform at Hong Kong’s International New Year’s Parade.

The Trojan Marching Band is complemented by the USC Silks (tall flags), plus the famous USC Song Girls — who were ranked No. 1 in the nation by Sports Illustrated — and Yell Leaders.