Ben Burge

Ben Burge is currently serving in his second year as Director of Bands at Northwest Rankin, where he oversees all aspects of the band program and directs the Cougar Marching Band and the Symphonic Band.  Mr. Burge is a graduate of Pearl River College and Mississippi State University where he served as Drum Major for the Spirit of the River and the Famous Maroon Band, performed in saxophone ensembles and was involved in student leadership and government. His graduate degree is from the University of Southern Mississippi and he is currently working towards the Doctorate of Education in Leadership from Walden University, Minneapolis, MN.  Mr. Burge enjoys judging for drum majors, colorguards, and dance teams in the region and is a drum major coach with several students earning drum major positions in college programs annually. His professional affiliations include the Mississippi Bandmasters Association, the Capital District Band Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association, East Central Mississippi band Directors Association, the National Band Association and Phi Mu Alpha.  He is currently president of the Capital District Band Association.  Mr. Burge lives in the Castlewoods community with his wife Cindy and two children, Max and Emma.