Dance & Aux Forum

Alcorn President Brown promotes Samuel Griffin, announces new University Band structure

by Alcorn State University on Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 1:24pm.

Alcorn State University announces the promotion of Samuel Griffin, founder of the “Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite” Marching Band and current Director of Marching Bands (a position he has held since 1969), to Director of University Bands.  In his new capacity, Griffin will oversee all of the University’s bands including the Marching, Concert, Jazz, Pep, Symphonic Brass Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Wind Ensemble and Woodwind Ensemble.

The University will also announce the new University Marching Band director at a press conference on Tuesday, May 31, 2011, at 10:00 am in the Gold Room of the Dr. Clinton Bristow Jr. Dining Hall on the Lorman Campus.

Griffin has led the search process for the selection of a new marching band director since May 1. “I’m honored to be a part of another momentous occasion in the history of Alcorn State University,” says Griffin. “The University and I have been committed to this process and look forward to taking the program to new levels of contribution and achievements.”

Under Griffin’s direction, the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite has been heralded across the country as the “Show Band of the Southland”.  The Alcorn State University Marching Band is one of the finest college bands in the nation. The band has over 200 members, 160 instruments, four drum majors, a sixteen-member flag corps, four twirlers and fourteen young ladies who make up the renowned and ever popular dancing squad – the “Golden Girls”.

The Band has performed before crowds at Soldier Field in Chicago, the Astrodome in Houston, Los Angeles Coliseum, Texas Stadium in Dallas, Superdome in New Orleans and many more high profile venues in Georgia, Alabama, Indiana, Missouri, New York and Washington D.C.  The band participated in the inaugural parade of President Jimmy Carter in 1977 and many inaugural parades for governors of the state of Mississippi. Griffin received his Bachelor of Music degree from Jackson State University and Masters of Music from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Thousands of students have come to study music and learn the essence of impeccable showmanship and marching precision at Alcorn State University under the buoyant character and recruitment abilities of Mr. Griffin. “Samuel Griffin is an iconic pioneer of black college marching bands all over the nation.  He is a highly respected, distinguished and talented musician,” says Dr. M. Christopher Brown II, 18th president of Alcorn State University. “I am confident that current and future student musicians at Alcorn will benefit greatly from the new University Band structure under the leadership of Samuel Griffin.”

For additional information and media assistance, call 601.877.6130 or email news@alcorn.edu.

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