July 28, 2014 (Jackson) -Belhaven University announced that Ben Burge has been named the Director of Marching Band. Burge comes to Belhaven after successful stints as a marching band director in the Mississippi public school system. "I am very excited about being at Belhaven," said Burge. "I look forward to working with the students and being a part of the Blazers family."
Burge's bands enjoyed growth and success in concert and marching, while the guard and dance groups under his direction also enjoyed successful performance and competition schedules throughout the southeast. Ben's groups traveled in performance and competition to many events including BOA Regionals, USBANDS Regionals, MHSAA State Championships, MBA State Festivals, the nationally televised Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, the National Concert Series in Washington D.C., Universal Studios Parades, Walt Disney World stage and parade performances, Six Flags stage and parade venues, MA Dance Nationals, UDA Dance Nationals, MA Auxiliary Nationals, Mississippi Indoor Association events, the Vanderbilt Invitational and many other venues.
"Ben brings a great combination of energy and experience to our Marching Band program," said Little. "That will translate into increased school spirit and lots of fun for our students."
A Mississippi native, Burge attended Pearl River Community College and later earned degrees in Music Education from Mississippi State University and The University of Southern Mississippi. Burge was a performing member of the Spirit of the River Marching Band, where he served as Drum Major and played saxophone and bassoon in the concert programs at Pearl River. He then went on to serve as Drum Major of the Famous Maroon Band at Mississippi State and played saxophone in the spring bands and saxophone ensembles.
Burge is a member of several professional organizations that include the Mississippi Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha, CBDNA, NBA, and has served on the board of directors for several regional clinic associations. He is a past president of the Capital District Band Directors Association. He has also served as a clinician and judge for various clinics and contests.Ben is currently completing the Doctor of Education in Leadership from the Riley School of Education at Walden University. He resides in the Flowood area with his wife Cindy and children, Max and Emma.