Shakira D. Brockington, a 2003 graduate of Carolina Forest High School in Myrtle Beach, has been named the new drum major of the Spirit of the Chanticleer Marching Band at Coastal Carolina University for the 2004 fall season.

A Conway native, Brockington was drum major of the Panther Marching Band for three years. She studies clarinet and piano at Coastal, where she is a music education major. In addition to her drum major duties, she is active in her church where she is involved in the music program as a singer, organist and choir director.

Brockington is an alumnus of numerous summer camps including the George Parks Drum Major Academy and the Bands of America Summer Music Symposium. She is the daughter of Michelle McQueen and the late Edward Brockington III, and the granddaughter of Cynthia Brockington.

The position of drum major is pivotal, and is open by audition every year, according to James Tully, CCU director of the band. The drum major serves as the head student leader, assists the directors in administration of the band and is chief “morale officer” for students in the band.