The University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band (UMMB) is the marching band for the University of Massachusetts Amherst known for its drum corps style and nationally renowned percussion section. The Minuteman Band is also known for its use of dance routines, vocalists, electronics, and overall showmanship.
The Minuteman Band plays halftime and post-game shows at all home football games and a variety of away games, parades, and exhibitions each season. The band has performed internationally in Canada and Ireland, at Ronald Reagan's and George W. Bush's inaugurations, the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, and the Rose Parade. The Minuteman Band has also given five exhibition performances at the annual Bands of America Grand National Championships and performed at 15 pro football games. The band has performed at the annual Collegiate Marching Band Festival in Allentown, Pennsylvania since the festival's inception in 1995 to 2019.
The UMass Band ethos was captured in the 1994 documentary "Building Power and Class", broadcast on PBS affiliates in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. In 1998, the Minuteman Marching Band was awarded the prestigious Sudler Trophy, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a collegiate marching band. In 2003, band alumna and former drum major Kerstin Becker published "Through These Doors," a coffee-table size book chronicling the history of the Minuteman Band.
The band was directed by George N. Parks from 1981 until his sudden death in September 2010; prompting Assistant Director Thom Hannum to be named interim director, assisted by Michael Klesch. Timothy Todd Anderson was named director of the band in 2011.
In 2011, the George N. Parks Minuteman Marching Band Building was completed, giving the band its first home since the Old Chapel was closed in 1997.
History
The band program at University of Massachusetts Amherst started in 1873 when the university was known as the Massachusetts Agricultural College. The Morris Drum Corps, as it was known, was the first resemblance of a marching band at the school, and it was directed by First Lieutenant Charles Morris of the 5th Army Artillery.
In the 1890s, the band was renamed the Clark Memorial Cadet Band after former college president William S. Clark. At the close of the century the band's instrumentation expanded, but the musicians consisted only of military cadets.
In 1931, the Massachusetts Agricultural College, or "Aggie", became the Massachusetts State College. Soon after, in 1934, the College hired its first music instructor, Frank Stratton. A year later, Massachusetts Agricultural College started to organize a formal band program, and appointed its first non-military band instructor, Charles Farnum. The newly created band became known as the "Redmen Marching Band". In 1938, the band had its most successful season to date by playing at all home games and an away game versus the United States Coast Guard Academy. During World War II, all bands at the university were disbanded from March 1943 until September 1945 because many of the members served in the military.
After the war, the band remained small, so the director set out to create a female "drill team" to augment the band. In 1946, this team expanded to a size of 44. This drill team was given the name of the "Precisionettes" in 1952.
In 1947 the Massachusetts State College became the University of Massachusetts. The band's name changed from the Redmen Marching Band to the Minuteman Marching Band in the 1970s under the leadership of Professor John Jenkins. Jenkins brought a new style of marching, high step rapid rhythm (thighs parallel to the ground) to UMass from the University of Michigan, and composer Jerry Bilik, who notably wrote the "Fight Mass" fight song. In 1977, George N. Parks was hired to direct the band. Parks brought the roll-step marching style and fostered the reputation that the band has today. His unique styles and intensity were widely praised.
Until 1997, the band was housed in Old Chapel on campus. From then, and until the October 17, 2009 groundbreaking of a marching band specific building, the band utilized a variety of campus locations for space. The university named the building in honor of George Parks.
In 2010, George Parks suffered a heart attack while traveling with the band to the University of Michigan. Associate director Thom Hannum was named interim director. In 2011, Timothy Todd Anderson was named permanent Director and Professor Hannum resumed his role as Associate Director. Christine McHugh Sirard was named Assistant Director in 2015, and serves as director of the color guard.
In May 2021, it was announced that UMass alumnus Ian Hale will be replacing Thom Hannum as Associate Director and head of percussion beginning August 2, 2021.
In October 2025, it was announced that Dr. Timothy Todd Anderson was placed on leave, and in early 2026 his name was removed from the band's website. The band was co-directed by associate directors Ian Hale and Christine McHugh Sirard for the remainder of the year, and for its 2026-2027 season will be led by interim leadership Hale (Percussion), Sirard (Visual Coordination and Color Guard), as well as former TA Hudson Moore (Brass and Woodwinds).
Minuteman Band Hall of Fame Many former band members and other figures have been elected to the Minuteman Band Hall of Fame by its alumni association since 1993. Induction years listed in parentheses.
Lloyd Henley (2025) BethAyn Curtis (2025) Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy (2022) Kappa Kappa Psi - Epsilon Nu & Tau Beta Sigma - Delta Delta (2019) Kristi Ochs (2019) Christine McHugh Sirard (2018) Jim Kierstead (2017) Keith Paul (2017) Walter Chesnut (2016) Sally Johnson (2016) Jamin Carroll (2016) John Leonard (2014) Rob Hammerton (2013) Jason DeGroff (2012) Doric Alviani (2011) UMass Amherst Alumni Association (2011) Linda Hannum (2009) Colin McNutt (2009) Brian Carroll (2006) Gerry Grady (2005) Jim MacRostie (2005) Dave Hautanen (2002) Michael Klesch (1999) Heidi Sarver (1997) Bob Bertram (1996) Thom Hannum (1996) Joe Contino (1995) John Jenkins (1994) George Parks (1993)
Leadership and Sections
Directors
Source: Charles Morris (1861-???) Charles Farnum (1935–1945) Doric Alviani (1945–1949) Ezra Schabas (1949–1950) Joseph Contino (1950–1963) John Jenkins (1963–1977) Larry V. Weed (1970–1971) George N. Parks (1977–2010) Thom Hannum (interim director 2010–2011) Timothy Todd Anderson (2011–2026)As of October 2025, Dr. Anderson was placed on leave. The decision was made permanent on May 11th, 2026, and the band is currently led by an interim leadership team.
Student Staff Student leadership has a major role in the UMMB. The UMMB is composed of student run administrative staff as well as field staff. Students in these roles are responsible for many aspects of the band on and off the field.
Drum Majors
As of the 2025 season, the current Drum majors are Brayden Hackett, Rebekah Doucette, Jack Chisholm, Nicole Ramirez, and Rachel Morina.
Executive Staff / Ad Staff Students can take on leadership roles within the band such as band manager, travel manager, and personnel manager. There is also administrative staff roles which include web staff, AV staff, merchandise staff, uniform staff, PR staff, historian staff, equipment staff, and library staff.
Instrumentation The Minuteman Band consists of typical marching band instruments: piccolos, flutes, clarinets, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, trumpets, mellophones, trombones, marching baritone horns, and sousaphones.
In addition to the instrumentation on the field, the band has a front ensemble and sometimes features a small-group horn section and singers. The wind and guard sections of the band do not require auditions for their members, however some instruments like the piccolo, guitar, bass, and vocals require an audition which is open to any band member. The twirlers, drum line and front ensemble are auditioned. Since the 2024 season, the UMass Dance Team has joined the band's membership.
Style The Minuteman Band's style is that of a drum corps, forming precise drill sets and shapes. However, The UMMB is known for its "dance-like moves" and tends to mix them in with the more traditional marching styles. The main show theme usually includes traditional marching band styles with some songs that are looser and less rigid. The band's use of amplification with electric guitars and other percussion often gives the band the reputation as a non-traditional marching band.
Colorguard and Twirlers
The UMass Colorguard and Twirlers are the visual sections in the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band, the Power and Class of New England. The Colorguard is led by Chris McHugh Sirard and is a fully modernized ensemble utilizing flag, rifle, sabre, dance, and alternative equipment.
The UMass colorguard began in 1974 and has been performing alongside the UMMB ever since. The UMMB and Colorguard perform at halftime and during post-game at all home football games and frequently travels to away games. The band has also performed at Bands of America in 1993, 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2011. As of the 2019 season, there were over 40 members in the UMass colorguard.
The twirlers are led by Kristi Ochs. They incorporate baton, dance, and ribbon into their routines.
Percussion
The percussion section was most notably instructed by DCI hall-of-famer Thom Hannum until 2021 when Ian Hale was named the new head of percussion.
The UMass Drumline is also known for many of its alumni who have branched out into many teaching and writing opportunities in percussive arts throughout the nation. This includes Hale who has worked with Madison Scouts, Carolina Crown, Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, and Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps prior to his role as head of percussion and associate director.
Band Culture
Each instrument section of the band takes on its own unique identity, featuring Greek letters, various traditions, and section attire that help create community within the band.
Flutes/Piccolos: The Flute section's Greek letters are ΒΣΛ. The flutes are known for their "Sparkle Hut" and wear red ribbons in their hair on gamedays and other performances.
Clarinets: The Clarinet section (also known as Netline Bestline) has the Greek letters ΛΒΣ. The clarinets wear purple bandanas on gamedays and other performances.
Alto Saxophones: The alto saxophone section (heard when chanting "Fish, Fish, Fish!") has the Greek letters ΣΑΧ. The altos wear red bandanas on gamedays and other performances.
Tenor Saxophones: The tenor saxophone section has the Greek letters ΣΔΜ. Tenors wear black bandanas on gamedays and other performances.
Baritone Saxophones: The baritone saxophone section has the Greek letters ΒΦΣ. The "baris" wear blue and white bandanas on gamedays and other performances.
Trumpets: The trumpet section (also known as the Hogline) does not have Greek letters, but instead has the quasi-Latin phrase "Hogo Ergo Sum", a play on Descartes' cogito, ergo sum. The trumpets (members are called Hogs) wear thin red elastic bands on gamedays and other performances.
Mellophones: The mellophone section (also known as mellos) have the greek letters ΜΔΣ, and they are known for promoting "tuning time" as "Confidence O'Clock". The mellos wear yellow bandanas on gamedays and other performances.
Trombones: The trombone section (also called the Bones) has a combination of Greek letters and symbols, Δ#$. The trombones wear green bucket hats on gamedays and other performances.
Marching Baritones: The marching baritone section has the Greek letters ΕΥΦ and calls itself "the Euphs" (named after the euphonium) and has the proper name "EuphMass" (taken once again from euphonium and combined with the similar-sounding "UMass"). The euphs wear camouflage bandanas on gamedays and other performances.