If you're the type to spend your weekend discovering YouTube channels, you might stumble upon Coahoma Community College art instructor Geoffrey Latham's channel, Delta Moose. Latham effortlessly entertains viewers, subscribers, and fans of the Delta State University Marching Statesmen with humorous press box hijinks.
Aside from amusement, Latham theatrically presents the Marching Statesmen onto the field as its game-day announcer.
While the musicians prepare to serve up pregame entertainment, Latham carefully articulates:
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, statesmen of all ages, get on your feet as the MARCHING STATESMEN welcome you to PARKER-McCOOL with a musical tribute to D-S-U!"
The band then fills the stadium with spirited sounds by ringing out the school's alma mater and fight song. Its halftime show treats the audience to entertaining selections. Uniquely, Latham gets to research the pieces to include facts about the pieces in his intros.
"My relationship with music has been a lifelong love affair and continues to this day," says Latham, who says he has shown support and enthusiasm for music and marching band, which he describes as "a form of musical athletics," since the sixth grade when he joined the band as a trombone player.
Coincidentally, Latham began his college career at Delta State as a music major. Though ending up as an art education major and obtaining both his bachelor's and master's in the DSU program, he remained connected with those in the music department. Exceeding the average person's love of music, the Grenada native joined the nation's oldest and largest national music fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, in his first year of college. Now an active alumni member, he is proud to have served as a chapter officer. He has contributed to the organization in several capacities over the years.
Latham, also known as "The Voice of the Marching Statesmen," remembers when he received news of the band's search for a new announcer. His friends and fraternity brothers who were members of the band immediately recommended Latham as a possible fit when band director John Wojcik mentioned the opening at rehearsal.
Wojcik contacted him, hoping to get a preview of his talent in an audition.
"I jumped at the chance!" said Latham. "I went in to audition and delivered a powerful and confident sample of a possible field introduction, and Dr. Wojcik was blown away by the energy and resonance of my performance and stopped his search there, offering me the job on the spot!"
Amazingly, Latham already had some background in broadcasting. Showing appreciation for his involvement, the DSU marching band pays him a small token to offset time spent as a scriptwriter, videographer of its performances, and broadcast personality. However, the thrill of being a part of the performance again is what keeps him faithful to these roles.
Along with getting to see Latham joke around on his YouTube channel, you will find full halftime performances delivered by the Delta State band and a behind-the-scenes look at his side of the press box.
"Though my involvement with performing has changed, one of the reasons I enjoy doing this is because of the universal uplifting impact that music can have on everyone," says Latham.
"My relationship with music has been a lifelong love affair and continues to this day."