The Jones College football team has excelled on the road for the first two games, and now the Drum Majors for the Typhoon Marching Band are ready to debut their show before the home crowd. Returning sophomore drum majors, Elisa Cook of Meridian and Chaz Welborn of Ellisville are joined by Laney Ingram of Raleigh and they are ready to “groove” with the 101-member Typhoon Marching Band at Jones College.
“I am looking forward to entertaining our audience with the ‘Elements of Groove: A Typhoon Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire’ show,” said Cook. “I think the audience will love the extravagant sound coming from our horn players.”
The business and marketing management technology major spent two years of leadership experience as a Clarkdale High School Drum Major, earning the title of MHSAA Superior Drum Major. Additionally, she has been a member of the marching and concert bands at Clarkdale High School, President of the FBLA, and she served as the 2024 Miss Black Queen City Talented Teen.
Welborn is also an experienced musician playing in the marching, jazz and concert bands at Northeast Jones High School. The sophomore electromechanical technology major enjoyed watching the Typhoon Marching Band in parades and at the games when he was younger. To be in a leadership role now, is an accomplishment he is proud of and takes this responsibility seriously.
“Being a member of a group that had a major influence in my life has been a great honor,” said Welborn. “Band camp was a major success and I’m proud the special traditions of the Typhoon have continued.”
Bringing a fresh excitement to the Typhoon, is nursing major from Morton, Laney Ingram who said she is, “getting into the groove with the rest of the Typhoon.” For the past four years as a member of the Raleigh High School band, Ingram and her twin sister Linsey, have watched the halftime show at JC and are excited to finally be a part of the Typhoon.
“I wanted to be the drum major for the Typhoon so badly that I watched videos I recorded of their halftime show and you can hear me getting excited over every cool cue they added to their routine or every time I was inspired by their performance. I would often find a way to incorporate some moves into my high school marching band performance,” shared Ingram.
Her determination, practice and lessons over the years proved to be successful. Ingram said being the drum major at JC is one of the best decisions she’s made.
“I love the Typhoon, and I hope that I can be a drum major that encourages others to join like my co-drum majors inspired me!”
These drum majors’ first public appearance leading the Typhoon Marching Band onto the field will be on Thursday, September 11, when Jones College hosts Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in football at 7 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium/Sim Cooley Field when the 2025 members of the Sports Hall of Fame are recognized.
