▁This ▁was ▁the ▁band ' s ▁fifth ▁appearance ▁at ▁a ▁World ▁Ex po . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁the ▁Spirit ▁of ▁T roy ▁gets ▁its ▁first ▁female ▁drum ▁major . ▁ ▁Also ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁" The ▁Spirit ▁of ▁T roy , ▁the ▁US C ▁march ing ▁band , ▁faced ▁controvers y ▁this ▁past ▁week end ▁( Nov ember ▁ 1 6 , ▁ 2 0 1 9 ) ▁after ▁playing ▁during ▁a ▁pre - game ▁student ▁mem orial ▁before ▁the ▁Cal - US C ▁football ▁game ▁in ▁Ber keley , ▁CA ." ▁ ▁" The ▁US C ▁band ▁issued ▁an ▁ap ology ▁for ▁" in ad vert ently " ▁playing ▁during ▁a ▁t ribute ▁to ▁a ▁Cal ▁player ▁who ▁passed ▁away ." ▁ ▁On ▁November ▁ 2 2 , ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁an ▁announ cement ▁was ▁made ▁on ▁the ▁US C ▁website ▁that ▁Saturday ▁( Nov ember ▁ 2 3 , ▁ 2 0 1 9 ) ▁will ▁be ▁Bart ner ' s ▁last ▁appearance ▁as ▁band ▁director ▁at ▁a ▁home ▁football ▁game ▁in ▁his ▁career . ▁" B art ner ▁will ▁then ▁return ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 2 0 ▁football ▁season ▁in ▁a ▁reduced ▁role ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁ensure ▁an ▁order ly ▁transition ▁to ▁the ▁new ▁director . ▁Bart ner ▁will ▁officially ▁ret ire ▁on ▁Jan . ▁ 1 , ▁ 2 0 2 1 ." ▁ ▁T ies ▁to ▁the ▁entertain ment ▁industry ▁The ▁Spirit ▁of ▁T roy