The Angelic Band from Blazer Land

Today's Clarion Ledger has a story about the new Belhaven College marching band:

When the Belhaven Blazers return to the gridiron in the fall, the 10-year-old team will share the field with the college's first marching band. Band director Paxton Girtmon wants "The Angelic Band from Blazer Land" from the private Presbyterian college to have about 70 members during its inaugural year. In addition to new students, the marching band will include members of the school's symphonic and jazz bands, two groups already assembled, practicing and ready to generate music in the fall while walking in step with fellow musicians.

The football hysteria that ignites most college campuses is new to 1,800-student Belhaven. The football team came on board shortly after Roger Parrott became president of the college. Founded as a women's college in 1883, the school also lacked a fight song until last fall when Girtmon penned Go Belhaven Blazers before the football team ran onto the field last fall.

Girtmon's band won't have full uniforms until after a fundraising campaign slated to begin after the first marching band season. It's a new beginning for Girtmon, who was an associate director of Jackson State University's internationally known Sonic Boom of the South for three years. (Read the full story here)