JSU's Marching Southerners perform the 2021 halftime show, "Fate of the Gods," accompanied by Zeus
JACKSONVILLE, ALABAMA (January 26, 2022) — Tricia Elden of Geneseo, Illinois, is a member of Jacksonville State University's Marching Southerners, which was recently recognized with the top honor in college bands — the prestigious Sudler Trophy, presented by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation. The award is given to one collegiate marching band every two years, and JSU is the smallest university ever to win the trophy.
Additionally, on January 25, it was announced that the band has been invited to represent the US in Normandy, France, in June 2024 to honor the eightieth anniversary of D-Day. The Southerners will perform along with other ensembles, choirs, and JROTC students in two official public ceremonies memorializing those laid to rest on the beaches of Normandy, as well as a parade that will begin in Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the first village to be liberated by American troops.
Elden is in the Mellophone section of the band.
About Jacksonville State University: Founded in 1883 as a state teachers college, Jacksonville State University has grown from humble beginnings into the Alabama regional university with the highest percentage of accredited programs. Located in the Appalachian foothills midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, JSU offers more than 150 courses of study, including over forty online programs, at the undergraduate and graduate level. To learn more, visit www.jsu.edu, call 1-800-231-JAX1 or e-mail jaxfacts@jsu.edu.
About the Marching Southerners: Established in 1956, the Marching Southerners band is the pride of Jacksonville State University, serving as not just game day entertainment but also as ambassadors for the institution. Housed within the Dr David L Walters Department of Music, the 500-member band is comprised of a diverse group of students from across campus, many of whom are studying to become high-school band directors. With class and excellence, the Southerners extend "The Friendliest Campus in the South" motto wherever they go, both on the field and off. Learn more at www.marchingsoutherners.org.
