Arthur C. Bartner | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1940-08-30)August 30, 1940 (age 85) |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Occupation | Director ofSpirit of Troy |
| Years active | 1970 - 2020 |
| Employer | University of Southern California |
Arthur Charles Bartner (born August 30, 1940) is an American musician best known as the director ofSpirit of Troy, the marching band for theUniversity of Southern California, a position he held from 1970 to 2020. During this time he has become closely identified withUSC Trojans football and has been credited with establishing the Spirit of Troy as "one of the most-famous bands in America."[1] In addition to his longtime work directing the USC marching band, Bartner also served as director of bands at Davison High School inDavison, Michigan, and as director of the band of the1984 Summer Olympics.
Bartner was born and raised inMaplewood, New Jersey. He claims his interest in music began when his older brother started takingtrumpet lessons, a path Bartner followed, and crystallized when he saw theUnited States Marine Band, which had come to perform at hisjunior high school.[2] AtColumbia High School, Bartner earned all-state honors in both trumpet andbasketball, and went on to attend theUniversity of Michigan, where he was a member ofSigma Alpha Mu.[3] After a failed try-out for the basketball team, he joined theUniversity of Michigan Marching Band, where he played trumpet from 1958 to 1962.[2][4] Following graduation in 1962, Bartner went on to earn aMaster of Music degree in 1963 and aDoctor of Education in 1971, both also at Michigan.[5][4] Bartner has credited longtime Michigan band directorWilliam D. Revelli as the most important musical influence in his life.[3]
Bartner was the band director atDavison High School inDavison, Michigan. During his five years at Davison, Bartner said he doubled the size of the band from 60 to 120 students. During this time he also performed with the Flint Symphony Orchestra inFlint, Michigan.[2]
Bartner was hired as director of the USC marching band in 1970. When he took over the group, it had 80 members and was derisively known as "the library band." By the late 1970s Bartner had become disappointed in the direction of the group which had become increasingly unruly and insubordinate. Talked out of resigning by university administrators, Bartner adopted a new disciplinarian approach to running the band, banning profanity,hazing and alcohol, and introducing an intensity in rehearsal he borrowed from observing Trojan football practices.[3]
Adopting a disciplinarian approach to running the group, Bartner quickly grew its size and energy. In 1973Diana Ross became the first in a long line of celebrity performers to appear on-field with the USC band.
In 1979 the Spirit of Troy recordedTusk withFleetwood Mac.
In 2011 Bartner was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame.[6]
Bartner announced on November 22, 2019, that he would step down as full-time director at the end of the season, with the intention of remaining with the band in 2020 to help the band transition to a new director.[7] He officially retired after the 2020 season, with Jacob Vogel named as his successor.[8]
Bartner married Barbara Masin, who he met in junior high school, in June 1962; they have two children.[3]
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