Former Hornet Now Leading Trojan Marching Band

When Keith Yoerg graduated from in 2008, he didn't expect to be capping his senior year of college by leading the University of Southern California's Marching Band.

He auditioned to be drum major last year and—following a lengthy voting process—ultimately lost the role in a contest almost too close to call. He auditioned again this year and nailed it, securing his role as the leading man of "Hollywood's Band."

"I'm pretty much the leader of a 300-person marching band," Yoerg said.

Yoerg has been playing trumpet since fifth-grade band, and was a section leader his senior year at EHS. He's sadly going to have to hang the instrument up for his final year at USC, since the drum major has a different role to play.

"My job is going to be to make sure people stay riled up and excited for the game," Yoerg said. "So we give Saturday morning speeches, then there's stabbing the field before the game. That's probably the best part."

In addition to donning the iconic Trojan armor—including custom-made sandals, a helmet and sword—USC drum majors also get to perform a routine on the field before Trojan football games. And while stabbing his sword into the middle of the field is a given, he said it's up to the drum major to figure out the rest.

"Each drum major makes up his own routine," Yoerg said. "I'm going to have to play around with the sword and figure out my own thing."

Aside from regular workouts, Yoerg has also been taking part in a substantial amount of sword training. 

"There's a lot of sword work involved," he said. "I'm basically conducting the entire band with the thing."

After spending his formative years under the tutelage of Paul Kile and Edina's marching band, Yoerg said he had the technical skills for anything the Trojans threw at him.

"Edina plays some [difficult music] and that definitely helped me out a lot coming into USC," he said.

Marching was a totally different story. Whereas Edina features a drum core with a roll step—heel to toe—USC has a driving style where band members pick up their feet and kick forward, pretending they're kicking a wall in the process.

Kile has many fond memories of Yoerg's time in Edina. He described Keith as a "highly enthusiastic, strong musician who really embodied esprit de corps in our program."

"At that time I would consider Keith to have been the 'Mr. Band' of our program," Kile said. "He was someone who was interested in music at all levels and all areas, so it comes as no surprise to me that he has become the drum major of the USC Marching Band."

Considering his strong background and passion for music, Kile said Yoerg is a fitting person to lead the Trojan Marching Band.

"It makes Edina proud, makes me very proud and I know he'll make USC very proud as the drum major," Kile said.

The Edina native will graduate with a degree in engineering next spring, but said he's looking forward to what should be a fantastic last season cheering on the USC football team.

Yoerg's mom, Janette, said it has been incredible to watch her son come full circle over the last five years. He went from a college freshman watching in awe as the marching band welcomed him to USC, to leading the same band for this year's incoming class as drum major. 

"It was a proud moment," she said. "This honor was a long time coming and he put hours of work and dedication into the band and his love of music. Keith is a true leader by nature, but he also puts in the time and his energy, heart and passion are contagious."

Yoerg has been party to a number of incredible experiences during his time with the Trojan Marching Band, including appearing on an episode of FOX's hit show "Glee"—see the above video—playing onstage at Coachella with Coheed and Combria and a number of other opportunities.

"The USC band labels itself as Hollywood's band," he said. "We get to do tons of amazing stuff like that."

Even after the incredible experiences at USC, he said some of his fondest band memories are a bit closer to home.

"I'll always remember the and playing in the pep band at the Xcel Energy Center," he said. "It was amazing to watch my friends play at state and I had more Edina pride that day than any other time I can recall."

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