OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi’s Pride of the South Band and Jacksonville State’s Marching Southerners Band are set to perform a joint concert after the Rebels’ season opener Sept. 4 against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.
The concert is free and will begin immediately following the game in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Fans can come to the east stands to watch.
“It will be an awesome sight to see approximately 550 or so musicians on the field at the same time,” said William DeJournett, director of the Pride of the South.
The concert will feature a standstill performance with four brief tunes. Both bands will be arranged by section and standing in a large arc on the field.
“We will be playing two of our standard tunes and two of theirs, mostly chorales,” DeJournett said. “It will be very loud.”
DeJournett, a JSU alumnus, said he thought it would be a good idea for the bands to perform together.
“I graduated from JSU in 1991 and played mellophone in the band,” DeJournett said. “I’ve known their director, Ken Bodiford, for 22 years. Jacksonville State has a long tradition of outstanding marching bands, and we thought it would be a nice thing for both the students in both bands and our fans as well.”
DeJournett encourages everyone to come out and watch the show.
“If you want to hear two outstanding college marching bands perform together, come to the east stands after the game,” he said.