On July 3, 2025, Bryan “Deeb” Hilliard suffered a fatal heart attack while doing what he loved most: playing the trumpet.
For those who knew him through the Minuteman Marching Band, there is perhaps no more fitting final chapter.
A member of the UMMB trumpet section and section leader who graduated in 1993, Deeb embodied the passion, commitment, and camaraderie that define the band experience. Decades after leaving Amherst, music remained a central part of his life.
His connection to the Minuteman Band did not end with his graduation.
Thirty years after Deeb served as trumpet section leader, his son Duncan followed the same path.
A member of the UMass Class of 2023, Duncan Hilliard became trumpet section leader exactly three decades after his father held the role. Different eras. Different generations. The same section. The same tradition.
Few families can claim such a direct connection to the history of the Minuteman Marching Band.
Today, that connection will continue through the Bryan Hilliard Memorial Scholarship.
Established in Deeb’s memory, the scholarship will provide a $1,000 annual award to a UMMB trumpet player, regardless of major. The scholarship recognizes not only musical achievement, but also the enduring impact one band member can have on a community long after graduation.
For generations of Minutemen, the trumpet section has been known for its volume, energy, and unmistakable presence. Thanks to the Hilliard family, it will now also serve as a reminder that the bonds formed in the band can span decades and even generations.
Every scholarship tells a story. This one tells the story of a father, a son, and a shared love of music.
Most importantly, it ensures that Deeb’s influence will continue to be felt each year when a young trumpet player receives support to pursue their education while carrying forward the tradition he loved.
Some notes fade.
Others continue to resonate long after they are played.