An arrangement of “Big Country,” written by alumnus Olin Johannessen and performed by UMass Marimbas, is being heard around the country after it caught the ear of well-known banjo player and jazz musician Béla Fleck.
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Band member named Marshall Scholar
Senior Katie Huston is one of 40 students in the US to be awarded a Marshall Scholarship and is the first UMass Amherst student to be so named in more than 30 years.
Drum Major Academy featured on NPR’s “Only A Game”
UMass Band director George N. Parks discusses teaching high school musicians the leaderships skills essential to being a drum major with WBUR’s Only A Game.
Drum camp requires focus
The teachers here are UMass alumni & students who can speak about the program. The program allows them to practice their teaching skills. Hannum said they “teach a work ethic and have fun while doing it.”
UMass Drumline alumni appear in People magazine
UMass drumline alumni Damon Grant ’01 on percussion and Glenn Robertson ’05 team up with American Idol finalist and The Bomb Squad.
The University of DCI?
The number of UMass alumni teaching drum corps has now reached more than 34, with 19 different corps! In DCI alone, nine out of the current top 12 finalists have been represented by UMass alumni.
Coming Up Roses
Under the direction of UMass Amherst’s own George N. Parks, a Rose Parade band shows how good it is.
UMass Bando to march in Rose Parade
Libby Jones will join 400 musicians from across the country in the Bands of America honors band. She is one six MA band members selected for the honor.