Drum majors for Mississippi State’s 2017-18 Famous Maroon Band include, from left, Jacob Baker of Vinemont, Alabama; Jacob Lanier of Marietta, Georgia; and Reece Paulk of McComb. The three students were among 27 who participated in a challenging audition and interview process earlier this spring.

Vinemont’s Jacob T. Baker has been chosen to lead Mississippi State’s Famous Maroon Band.

Baker, sophomore music education major, was one of three new drum majors chosen from a group of 27 student auditions.

“The student leadership in our band program is very strong right now,” said Director of Bands Elva Kaye Lance.

“We had an outstanding group of 27 students try out to be drum major, and these three were selected after a very challenging audition and interview process,” added Lance, an MSU alumna and instructor with nearly 40 years experience in music education.

A graduate of Vinemont High School and an Eagle Scout, Baker plays saxophone and aspires to be a composer and teacher.

Along with home football games, the Famous Maroon Band lends its musical talents and spirit during Fall Convocation, Cowbell Yell, The Drill, and other special traditions and events.

In recent years, the Famous Maroon Band has made appearances at the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee, the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida, the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.

Representing a cross-section of academic disciplines, band members receive academic credit each semester and are eligible to receive a service award for their participation. The amount of the award is determined by demonstration of their musical ability during auditions, which are held in January.