Strike Up the Band, Talladega College has started a Marching Band Program

TALLADEGA, Alabama — Talladega College, it’s the home of the famous Amistad Murals, championship men’s and women’s basketball teams, an illustrious list of graduates that became university presidents, the first meeting place of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Andrew Young, alumni in business, science, education, healthcare and industry world-wide; and now adding to its current list is a new marching band. Talladega College started a marching band program this summer.

Over 100 prospective and current students expressed an interest in participating in the College band. Activities were set with a Band Camp which was held on the campus July 29 through the first week of August. The new band will perform at sports events, parades, celebrations, concerts and make special guest appearances. Following the summer camp, the band students will continue with instruction and begin performance in the fall.

“We are looking forward to this new program at the College. With music, you have the ability to inspire, unite and uplift an audience and community. Our program is attracting students from across the southeast. They are excited to come and be a part of the ‘first-ever’ Marching Band at Talladega College,” remarks President, Dr. Billy C. Hawkins.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Evelyn White also adds, “I think the Band is a tremendous asset. It will boost the level of excitement and enjoyment at our sports events and other occasions on the campus.”

The College is eager to launch and increase the ‘Dega sound’ as we touch others with music and more.

Talladega College Band members marched and danced their way through New Orleans streets on August 22, 2012, in their first on-the-road performance, after holding the school’s first-ever band camp only three weeks ago. The 100 plus member band was on the roster as a part of the Prince Hall Shriners’ parade in New Orleans.

According to a release from the college, most of the band students are from New Orleans and surrounding areas. They had a chance to perform for their home crowd and national visitors in a parade that in the past has taken four hours to complete.






ABOUT TALLADEGA COLLEGE

Talladega College, with the assistance of the American Missionary Association, was founded in 1867, by the descendants of the slaves who helped to build its first building, Swayne Hall-now a national historic site. Talladega College was the first institution in the state of Alabama to admit qualified persons of any race or ethnic origin.

The private, four year, co-educational, liberal arts college offers 17 majors grounded in the liberal arts. Its athletic programs are members of the States Collegiate Athletics Association, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) and the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.). Talladega College offers seven intercollegiate sports teams: for women, basketball, softball and volleyball; for men, baseball, basketball, golf, and soccer.

The college is affiliated with the United Church of Christ.

COURTESY TALLADEGA COLLEGE MEDIA RELATIONS