History
History of the Best Band in the Bay
- 1926 - The Spartan Marching Band Is formed
- 1926-1929 - George Matthew is first band director
- 1929-1931 - Ray Miller is the second band director
- 1931-1937 -
- 1937-1947 - Thomas Eagan is band director
- 1947-1949 - Fred Baird is band director
- 1949-1951 Forrest Boots is band director
- 1951-1953 Robert Olsen is band director
- 1953-1956 Robert Fiester is band directo
- 1956-1972 Robert Muzzy - 17 years as Band Director
- 1967-1970 Bill Nicolosi take position of Assistant Band Director
- 1972 - Spartan Color Guard changes from all-male to all-female
- 1972-1973 Scott Pierson assumes student field band director, Bill Jeske is the Administrative
Director. - 1973 - Marching Band performs at Oakland Raiders Football Game.
- 1973 - 1975 Wayne Downey take the position of student band director for the Spartan
Marching Band. - 1975 - Band was dissolved - dormant for next three years
- 1978 Spartan Marching Band is revived with assistance of Simpkins family.
- 1978 - Bill Nicolosi is hired as band director, Scott Pierson is hired as assistant.
- 1979 - Carl Chevallard is hired as Marching Band Director at SJSU replacing Bill Nicolosi.
- 1980 - Marching Band performs at Oakland Raiders Football Game.
1980 - First annual winter concert is established. - 1981 - The Spartan Band appears at the Pasadena Tournament of Rose Parade
1981 - Marching Band performs at Oakland Raiders Football Game.
1981 - Marching Band travel to Fresno for the inaugural California Bowl vs Toledo - 1982 Second year of San Jose Holiday Parade - now includes Spartan Marching Band.
- 1983 Scott Pierson becomes Band Director of the Spartan Marching Band
- 1984 New Uniform debut change from Blue to First White Top with Stripe
- 1986 Marching Band travel to Fresno for the California Bowl vs Miami Ohio
- 1987 - Marching Band performs at San Francisco 49er’s Football Game.
1987 - Marching Band travel to Fresno for the California Bowl vs Eastern Michigan. - 1988 Pep Band takes for trip to Hawaii.
- 1989 Marching Band performs at San Francisco 49er’s Football Game - Monday Night
Game. - 1990 Marching Band travel to Fresno for the California Raisin Bowl vs Central
Michigan. - 1996 Marching Band first trip to Hawaii.
- 1998 Marching Band takes second trip to Hawaii.
- 1999 New Uniform debut change to Second White with X.
- 2000 Marching Band take third trip to Hawaii.
- 2006 Marching Band performs at Oakland Raiders Football Game.
Marching Band travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the inaugural New Mexico
Bowl vs New Mexico. - 2007 Marching Band performs at Oakland Raiders Football Game.
- 2008 Spartan Color Guard becomes co-ed unit - now include males again.
- 2010 Marching Band performs at San Francisco 49er’s Football Game.
Last San Jose Holiday Parade held. - 2012 Spartan Shield Line is added
- 2012 - Latest Uniform Change - White Top Single Gold Sash with Helmet.
2012 - Marching Band travels to Annapolis, Maryland for the Military Bowl - vs Bowling Green - 2014 Marching Band takes trip to Southern California - Ayala High School.
- 2014 - Cupertino HS Exhibition
- 2015 - Marching Band takes Las Vegas Trip
- 2017 - Largest Band Day with over 1000 performers.
- 2018 - Scott Pierson retires after 40 years on staff.
- 2018 - Dr. Craig McKenzie is hired as the current band director
- 2020 - Football season Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic. A virtual project is held in it's place
- 2021 - The Spartan Marching Band returns to the field.
- 2021 - Away Trip to Reno and San Francisco.
- 2021 - Spartan Hype Drumline and Spring Colorguard founded
- 2022 - New Uniform
- 2022 - Marching Band takes trip to Southern California - SDSU Football game
- 2022 - Travels to Boise, ID for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
- 2022 - Appearance in promotional video for SJC Airport "Fly Simple" campaign.
- 2023 - Appearance in Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2023 Keynote video.
- 2023 - Largest Band Day event to date with over 1,700 high school performers joining the Marching Band.
- 2023 - Marching Band away game trip to Honolulu, Hawaii
Directors of the SJSU Spartan Marching Band
- 1926-1929 - George Matthew
- 1929-1931 - Ray Miller
- 1937-1947 - Thomas Eagan
- 1947-1949 - Fred Baird
- 1949-1951 - Forrest Boots
- 1951-1953 - Robert Olsen
- 1953-1956 - Robert Fiester
- 1956-1972 - Robert Muzzy
- 1973-1975 - Wayne Downey (Student Director)
*1975-1978 - Band on Hiatus - 1978-1979 - Bill Nicolosi
- 1979-1983 - Carl Chevallard
- 1983-2018 - Scott Pierson
- 2018 - Present Dr. Craig McKenzie
The Uniform
2012-2022
2023 - Present
Coming soon.
History compiled by Charlie Iwanaga and Joseph Khalifa.
