Albany State names first female head drum major

Albany State University has named Edreka Coleman as the Marching Rams Show Band’s first female head drum major for the 2026–2027 academic year. The appointment comes as the HBCU band prepares for historic performances in Detroit and Birmingham and continues its national growth.

Why it matters: - Edreka Coleman becomes the first woman to serve as head drum major for Albany State University’s Marching Rams Show Band. - The appointment signals a new leadership milestone for a band that has expanded its national profile since 2023. - Coleman will help lead a group preparing for high-visibility performances this fall.

What happened: - Albany State University named Edreka Coleman, a senior music education major from Macon, Georgia, as head drum major for the 2026–2027 academic year. - Coleman previously served as a drum major during the 2025–2026 academic year. - Coleman will lead the Marching Rams Show Band’s three-drum-major team. - The announcement was made August 27, 2026.

The details: - Coleman is the first female head drum major in the band’s history. - Previous female drum majors at Albany State included Chasity Johnson, the late Ashley Pickney, Fayola Braithwaite and Desiree Wesson. - The head drum major serves as the lead student leader among the band’s drum majors. - The role includes direction, coordination and leadership during rehearsals, performances and appearances. - The head drum major works closely with the director of bands and other student leaders. - Dr. William Brooks is the director of bands. - Brooks said Coleman represents the leadership, discipline and excellence the program wants to see in the Marching Rams Show Band. - The band has grown from 26 musicians to 160 members during Brooks’ tenure. - The program reached a major enrollment goal in four years. - The band has appeared at the National Battle of the Bands and received ESPN “Band to Watch” recognition.

Between the lines: - Coleman’s appointment fits a broader pattern of women holding leadership roles in the band, but this is the first time a woman has held the top drum major post. - The band’s rapid growth and rising visibility appear to be creating more leadership opportunities for students. - The quote from Coleman frames the milestone as both personal achievement and representation for women and young girls. - Brooks’ remarks suggest the program is linking student leadership to its larger competitive and performance ambitions.

What’s next: - The Marching Rams Show Band will perform in America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, Michigan, as the first HBCU band in the parade’s history. - The Detroit appearance will be part of the parade’s 100th anniversary celebration. - The band is also scheduled to perform in the 2026 Legends at Legion Field HBCU Battle of the Bands. - Coleman will lead the drum major team throughout the 2026–2027 performance season. - The band will continue taking its sound and Golden Ram pride to audiences across the country.

The bottom line: - Albany State is elevating a new student leader at the same time its marching band is reaching new national milestones.