History

History of the Best Band in the Bay

  • 1926 - The San Jose State College 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

  1. 1926-1929 - George Matthew
  2. 1929-1931 - Ray Miller
  3. 1937-1947 - Thomas Eagan
  4. 1947-1949 - Fred Baird
  5. 1949-1951 - Forrest Boots
  6. 1951-1953 - Robert Olsen
  7. 1953-1956 - Robert Fiester
  8. 1956-1972 - Robert Muzzy
  9. 1973-1975 - Wayne Downey (Student Director)
    *1975-1978 - Band on Hiatus
  10. 1978-1979 - Bill Nicolosi
  11. 1979-1983 -  Carl Chevallard
  12. 1983-2018 - Scott Pierson
  13. 2018 - Present Dr. Craig McKenzie

 

The Uniform

2012-2022

2012-2022 Marching Band Uniform2021-2022 Color Guard Uniform

2023 - Present

Coming soon.

 

History compiled by Charlie Iwanaga and Joseph Khalifa.