USC Band to Make Walt Disney Concert Hall Debut with Six: The Musical In Concert
LOS ANGELES — For decades, the USC Trojan Marching Band has been a fixture at some of Los Angeles’ most iconic stages, from annual appearances at the Hollywood Bowl to high-profile sporting events. But this Friday, the band is stepping into uncharted territory — making its debut at the prestigious Walt Disney Concert Hall, the winter home of the LA Philharmonic, with a unique production of Six: The Musical In Concert, as reported by USC Today .
A First for the Trojan Spirit
Since the early 1980s, the Trojan Marching Band has closed out Hollywood Bowl summers with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. Now, the band adds a new milestone by performing for the first time at Walt Disney Concert Hall — a venue celebrated for its acoustics and architecture.
The centerpiece of the evening will be Six: The Musical In Concert, a bold encore of the USC Concert Band’s hit spring performance in collaboration with the USC School of Dramatic Arts. The story reimagines the six wives of King Henry VIII as pop divas, each modeled after icons like Beyoncé, Adele, Nicki Minaj, and Ariana Grande, giving the historical narrative a modern, feminist edge.
Collaboration Across the Arts
The production represents the first official partnership between the USC band and the School of Dramatic Arts, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. Student performers, designers, and choreographers all contributed to the show. Costumes were student-designed, choreography was student-led, and five of the six leading performers are drama students, with the sixth — Rachel Cervantes — pulling double duty as both a trumpet player and performer.
Dean Emily Roxworthy praised the collaboration, calling it an example of “the innovative, interdisciplinary artistry that showcases the strength of the arts at USC.” She highlighted how the partnership not only celebrates creative talent but also sets the stage for future collaborations between the programs.
A Night of Music and Spirit
The program will kick off with a medley of music from the first 100 years of Walt Disney animated films, a nod to the venue’s namesake. Following Six: The Musical In Concert, the Trojan Marching Band, USC Song Leaders, and USC Spirit Leaders will host a traditional post-concert “rally,” performing the university’s fight songs and trademark rock hits that have energized fans for generations.
This combination of theater, concert performance, and school spirit makes the event a showcase not only of USC’s talent but also of its cultural footprint in Los Angeles.
A Director’s Vision
The idea to adapt Six came from Jacob Vogel, who is entering his fifth year as director of the USC band. Inspired after watching a touring production of Six at Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Vogel saw an opportunity to reimagine the traditional spring concert into something fresh and theatrical.
“While I’ve been to Walt Disney Concert Hall as a patron many times, it’s going to be a thrilling experience to bring the music of Six to life in such a storied venue while providing an invaluable opportunity for our students,” Vogel said.
Why It Matters
For USC students, this debut represents more than just another performance — it’s a chance to take the stage at one of the world’s most iconic concert halls. For audiences, it’s a chance to see how young musicians and performers are reshaping the boundaries of traditional college band concerts.
As USC continues to position itself at the intersection of music, theater, and culture, events like these highlight the school’s role in nurturing future talent and creating performances that resonate beyond campus.
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