Michigan State football fans will be delighted to hear the Spartan Marching Band performing the half-time show at the Dowagiac Chieftain Football game Friday, Sept. 20, versus Berrien Springs High School.

The Spartan Marching Band (SMB), under the direction of John Madden, will be performing selections from its pre-game and half-time show it will be performing the following day at the Michigan State/Notre Dame football game in South Bend, Ind.

The Spartan Marching Band will also take part in a high school marching band clinic at Edwardsburg High School from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20.

Local marching bands such as the Dowagiac Chieftain Marching Band, the Edwardsburg Marching Band, the Berrien Springs Marching Band, the Cassopolis Marching Band and the Brandywine Marching band will all take part in the clinic with SMB members.

Attendance is open to the public.

Founded in 1870 as a 10-member student group, the Spartan Marching Band is now made up of 300 members.

It has grown into one of the premier college bands in the nation and prides itself on musical excellence, physical toughness and military-grade precision.

The band has performed for five U.S. presidents, at four Rose Bowls, at two World’s Fairs and at one World Series.

The performance and clinic were made possible by directors C.J. Brooks (Dowagiac) and Tom Crowner (Edwardsburg) and Brian Wood of Lewis Cass Intermediate School District.