Ask someone to name the most influential organizations in the marching arts and they’ll probably mention Drum Corps International, Bands of America, or a legendary drum corps.
They should probably mention the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band, too.
For decades, the UMMB has quietly helped shape the activity through its directors, instructors, alumni, and innovations. From drum majors and percussion educators to Broadway productions and championship drum corps, the fingerprints of the UMMB can be found throughout the marching arts.
It starts with George N. Parks.
When Parks arrived at UMass in 1977, he didn’t simply build a bigger marching band. He built a culture. Under his leadership, the UMMB became one of the nation’s premier collegiate bands, earned The Sudler Trophy, appeared in presidential inaugurations and national parades, and inspired countless students to chant “Eyes With Pride” in pursuit of careers in music education and the performing arts.
His influence spread far beyond Amherst. Through the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy, he taught leadership to tens of thousands of students across North America. His philosophy—that drum majors are leaders first and performers second—continues to shape high school and college marching bands decades later.
The same is true of percussion.
When Thom Hannum joined the UMMB, he helped elevate the UMass Drumline into one of the country’s most respected collegiate percussion programs. At the same time, his early work with drum corps like the Crossmen, the Garfield Cadets, Star of Indiana, and so many others helped redefine modern marching percussion. Today, his books, exercises, and teaching methods are used by instructors around the world. His drumlines in the 1987 Cadets the 2025 Boston Crusaders earned the only perfect scores in DCI World Championship history.
Then there are the alumni.
UMMB graduates teach thousands of students every year. They’ve gone on to lead high school and college marching bands, teach championship drum corps and indoor ensembles, arrange music, judge competitions, and perform with military bands and professional entertainment groups. Some helped bring the Emmy and Tony award winning BLAST! to life, introducing drum corps performance to Broadway audiences and winning Tony and Emmy Awards in the process. Former UMMB assistant director Michael Klesch, himself a DCI Hall of Famer, has long worked with Carolina Crown, and written for bands such as the University of Alabama Million Dollar Band.
Perhaps that’s the UMMB’s greatest contribution.
Its influence isn’t confined to one field, one performance, or one generation. It lives in classrooms, rehearsal halls, stadiums, and communities across the country through the people who wore the maroon uniform and carried its traditions with them.
These are the roots of the UMMB Family Tree. The branches keep growing.
The Power and Class of New England isn’t just a slogan. It’s a legacy that continues to shape the marching arts every day.