UMMB
| Minuteman Marching Band | |
|---|---|
 |
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| School | University of Massachusetts Amherst |
| Location | Amherst, MA |
| Conference | Independent |
| Founded | 1878 |
| Director | Dr. Timothy Anderson |
| Associate director | Thom Hannum |
| Members | 400 |
| Fight song | "Fight Mass" |
| Website | umass |
The University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band (UMMB) is the marching band for the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The band was directed by George N. Parks from 1977 until his sudden death in September 2010; prompting Assistant Director Thom Hannum to be named interim director, assisted by Michael Klesch. In 2011 former Chancellor Robert C. Holub announced the appointment of Timothy Todd Anderson as director of the band.
The Minuteman Band plays halftime and post-game shows 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. 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 2013, the band completed yet another milestone, marching through the streets of New York City and into Herald Square for the 87th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.. In 2018, the band will perform at the annual Tournament of Roses Parade, with 21 other bands.
In the fall of 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.
The band program at University of Massachusetts Amherst started in 1863 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.
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