P O W E R & C L A S S SPRING 2005

VOL. III, ISSUE 1FOR ALUMNI & FRIENDS OF THE MINUTEMAN BAND AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST

As the Tournament of Roses Parade stepped-off on New Year’s Day, a familiar fi gure led the 342-member Bands of America (BOA) Honor Band: UMass Am-herst’s own George N. Parks, longtime director of the Minuteman Marching Band. Appearing 10th in the parade, the BOA Honor Band was composed of out-standing high school band members from nearly every state, with brass, woodwinds, percussionists, colorguard and dancers. The band members were selected by audi-tion from among thousands of the nation’s fi nest band programs to be a part of the fi rst Bands of America Honor Band. Assisting Parks in this monumental endeavor were other UMass Amherst family members. Michael Klesch ‘90G, assistant director of the Minuteman Band, arranged and taught the music, with Thom

Hannum ‘84G, associate director of the Minute-man Band, arranging percussion parts. Heidi Sarver ‘86, ‘88G, director of the University of Delaware Blue Hen Marching Band, was instru-

mental in selecting the 5 drum majors for this impressive band.

Meeting just fi ve days before the big parade, Parks and his all-star staff had to teach band members, including UMass Amherst freshman Libby Jones

‘08 who was chosen while a senior at Marshfi eld (Mass.) High School, to per-

form as one. In that brief time they became a cohesive band, rehearsed the parade route, learned and rehearsed their BandFest show, and built lifelong friendships. The very nature of the Honor Band, and how the members came from all

continued on page 2

ummbalumni.org — 2

corners of the nation to gather in southern California is a story in and of itself! “We spend a lot of time teaching leadership techniques because, for many of the bands, the drum major is an assistant band direc-tor,” Parks points out. “We give them very specifi c techniques in how to teach, what to look for, the kind of attitude and tone you need to convey as you’re teaching your band, and how to remain very positive-spirited when you’re working with them.” Parks has a long history with Bands of America, starting in 1971, when he was one of 25 students participating in BOA’s drum major workshops. Since, he has become the nation’s foremost expert in drum majoring, building a long relationship with BOA that now extends to the Minuteman Band, having appeared at three Grand National Cham-pionships in Indianapolis. Scott McCormick, president and CEO of Bands of America and the producer of the Honor Band, said, “We’re adding elements not commonly associated with a parade to make this performance a once-in-a-lifetime event for the participants and one that the audience won’t soon forget.” Musical selections included “Refl ections of Earth” from Disney’s Epcot Millennium Celebrations, Gloria Estefan’s “Get on Your Feet,” and “The Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa.

Photos and video at bands.org/public/events/tor/

continued from page 1

JOIN TODAYgroups.yahoo.com/group/ummb-alumni

You Were. You Are.UMass

umassalumni.com

Save the Date!Homecoming Weekendis October 14-15

The Minutemen take on James Madison and the Minuteman Band honors Thom Hannum and 25 years of excellence!

Volume III No. 1 Spring 2005.POWER & CLASS is published twice each year by the University of Mas-sachusetts Amherst Minuteman Marching Band. Send address changes to POWER & CLASS, 273 Fine Arts Center, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003.

Homecoming2005

1980Thom Hannum arrives in Amherst

1987He leads the Garfi eld Cadets drum-line to a perfect score at DCI Finals

1999Thom arranges for the Tony- and Emmy-winning show Blast!

2005We celebrate the excellence, the power, the class

Happy 25th, Thom

ummbalumni.org — 3

Over 30 band alumni “tuned-up” at the Mullins Center Jan. 22 for the Minuteman Hoop Band’s 4th Annual Big Schnozzola.

The Minuteman Band was recently featured on WGBY-57 in Springfield. The pub-lic-affairs program ‘Making It Here’ interviewed Band Director George Parks and showed highlights from the 2004 season. x Drum Major Jon Korhonen ‘05 was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Indoor Track & Field Student-Athlete of the Year for 2005. x Thom Hannum ‘84G visited Asia in January to spread some drum gospel. Giving clinics for the Pearl Corporation, Thom spent 2 weeks in Korea and

Japan. x Part of Vic Firth’s educational video series, the UMass Drumline was filmed this fall performing highlights from the 2004 show. This video was shown at Vic Firth’s booth at Bands of America Grand Nationals and at vicfirth.com. x Last summer, David Jenkins ‘96 (right) earned a coveted spot in the United States Marine Corps Band, “The President’s Own.” Also a member of the Marine Band is fellow UMass Amherst grad Jason Fettig ‘98, the band’s assistant director and executive officer. x UMass Goes Pops! Dr. Jack Wil-son is inaugurated as president of the UMass system. Accompanying the Bos-ton Pops Orchestra is our own Minuteman Band. x

Alumni Come HomeAs a young fan celebrated Halloween “UMass-style,” a bit of rain did nothing to dampen the spirit of UMass Amherst alumni who came home to participate in Homecoming festivities October 29-31. Alumni and students

participated in pre-game festivities, representing states from across the country. Positioned on the football fi eld, they held the fl ags of their states as the Minutemen took the fi eld. Richard Bartlett ’76 (Minnesota), Mikhaela Houston ’97 (North Carolina), and Doug Arent ’97 (Colorado), band alumni who represented their states with pride, came back to enjoy a classic New England fall weekend to see old friends, to see a thrilling football victory, and to march “one more halftime.” Says Houston of her experience, “For one of the very fi rst times, it was nice to say

that I was representing North Carolina. I have and always will consider myself a ‘Native New Englander,’ but it was great to say I was also representing the

beautiful Tar Heel State.” Over 400 band alumni, rep-resenting classes from 1950 to 2004, “came home” to cel-ebrate in the festivities. Other highlights included the Cosby Comes

Home benefi t concert, a bonfi re and pep rally, tailgating in Minute-

Fan Park, and the Minuteman overtime win against the Maine Black Bears. Homecoming 2005 will be a BLAST as we commemorate Thom Hannum’s 25th anniversary at UMass Amherst.

Band Notes

ummbalumni.org — 4

Summer’s slumber at UMass Amherst ends each August with the thunder of drums.

You see, of the 300 members of the Minuteman Marching Band some 50 percussionists renew a bond with the changing of the leaves. Perhaps it’s the camarade-rie of being an ensemble-within-an-ensemble. Maybe it’s the long hours of practice. Or could it be the thrill of performing? Perhaps it’s the family spirit that imbues these students. Much more than a team, these students learn and help each other learn a uni-versal language, a vocabulary to communicate ideas. Now spanning three decades, this UMass Amherst family has grown large, and for Thom Han-num ’84G, Minuteman Band asso-ciate director and percussion guru, this family tree has roots. Early into Thom Hannum’s ten-ure at UMass Amherst, a distinct brotherhood came together. Many would attribute this to Thom’s af-fable seriousness with his students. Always a good mentor and fre-quently a friend, Thom imparts a fatherly quality to those he’s close with. It’s no surprise that back in the mid-eighties, the drumline

began to take on a personality all its own. Bandos and fans alike often wonder what the now-ubiquitous Phi Beta Delta sweatshirts–em-blazoned with the words UMASS DRUMLINE–represent. A check of the campus Greek Affairs roster indicates no such group. On one of many trips to Blue Hen country in Newark, Del., the drumline was, for the fi rst time, assigned to one bus. The drumline made good with long hours on the road. They practiced, of course! But with a wink, the fun of good company bore the phrase “I Banga Drum,” immortalized on those sweatshirts as ΦΒ∆. Greek spellers know that something isn’t quite right there, but that story is best told by those percussive pals who coined the phrase. In 1987, Hannum, the now DCI Hall of Famer, wrote the percus-sion charts the Garfi eld Cadets performed to a perfect score at DCI Finals. Fast forward to 2005, you will see recent UMass Amherst grad Chris Vale ’04 working the Cadets’ sticks. Over the years, the Cadets have been but one corps, one branch of this family. Genera-tions.

Students of students are enter-ing the program, benefi tting from the contributions of alumni and sponsors, completing a cycle and making yet larger contributions. This summer, you’ll see many corps–notably Carolina Crown, Madison Scouts, and Crossmen –spreading Hannum’s gospel.These corps’ drumlines will each be instructed by a legion of UMass Amherst family. Crown gets an added bonus: the horns get to work with Michael Klesch ’90G, the acclaimed arranger who calls UMass Amherst home. It’s a sense of brotherhood that will benefi t these corps most. And it’ll prob-ably be transparent. This growing drum corps infl u-ence is paying off, too. Recruits hail not only from the Northeast but also from California, Colorado and New Mexico. Years from now, these students will see each other and reminisce. They’ll keep in touch through it all. They’ll come to shows and meet anew and it will be like they hadn’t parted company.

ΦΒ∆ in ’05Seth Adams ‘05.....................Carolina CrownJim Ancona ‘92........University of DelawareNick Angelis.....................................TroopersJon Boisjolie ‘00..........................Heat WaveJack Foulis ‘02.......................East Coast JazzDamon Grant ‘01............................CrossmenIan Hale.................................Carolina CrownDarren Hazlett ‘99..........................CrossmenJeff Hope ‘02.........................Madison ScoutsKelly Howell ‘05.............................CrossmenOlin Johannessen ‘05.........Boston CrusadersRob Keiti ‘04..........................Madison ScoutsJack Mansager ‘96..........................CrossmenBrandon McNutt ‘03..............East Coast JazzColin McNutt ‘96, ‘99............Madison ScoutsIain Moyer ‘99.......................Madison ScoutsChris Perna ‘00................Syracuse BrigadiersChris Rapaki ‘05.....................Carolina CrownChris Retschulte ‘98G..Santa Clara VanguardZach Schlicher ‘05.................Madison ScoutsChris Slipp ‘04.........................East Coast JazzKate Tice ‘99......................Capital RegimentBrian Tinkel ‘96 ‘00 ‘02G.......Carolina CrownChris Vale ‘04.......................................CadetsMike Wasielewski ‘00......................SpartansDave Wolf ‘02.........University of Oklahoma

ummbalumni.org — 5

2004Congratulations, Seniors,You did it our way...

Oliver AaltonenMeg AnthonyMatt AubyMeg BannonKaren BeckerGary BerniceDiana BinghamMeaghan BirchJennifer BrownAlison BurtBecca Cioffi Lindsay CrabtreeTim CulkeenMegan CusickBecky DinanPat DrakeBen FarrellJimmy FlynnDave ForandSteve FoulisPaul Freniere

Denise GavenJoel GiacobozziRob GraffSheryl HardingMolly HayesJamie HoganKelly HowellMichelle JardonJulie JenkinsOlin JohannessenSally JohnsonChristyne KaneJosh KiggansMorgan KinshawJon KorhonenMatt KuzmeskasJim LahtiDoug LemieuxAnthony LeonardiDoug LepistoKatie L’Heureux

Shannon LynchEric MahoneyMarc MaierKristin MallettNick MalnatiJameson MelbourneCaitlin MerriganMatt MiceliRichardson MoratayaCorey MossopHeidi MunroKeith MurrayMeghan NadeauTuan NguyenEitan NovotnyBrian O’ConnellElizabeth O’MalleyAutumn OhlsenJohn PachecoChris PaganoKatie Pion

Steve PomerantzScott RutkowskiMelissa SchamingZach SchlicherChristine SlavkovskyJackie SlyCourtney SmithMichael SmudaLauren SobanskiMichelle SparrJen SterlingAndy TamulynasKaren TownsendLeanna ToyJess VailleTiffany WilliamsBen WilliamsDoug Woodruff

ummbalumni.org — �

With Pride...The Minuteman Band is grateful to those who offered financial and in-kind support in 2004. While every effort was made to ensure a proper listing, names may have been omitted. If so, we truly apologize.

Dennis & Nancy AlakoskiDiane M. AlcornStephen & Ann AmbroseRichard P. AnthonyPaul & Marie ApplebySheryl J. AricoKathryn V. ArnoldKevin D. ArsenaultBenjamin & Mary AstleyNathaniel S. BalchGlenn M. BarnhardRichard B. BartlettDaniel & Kathleen BeanSara BechtoldScott & Mary BelgardDaniel BellackSandra L. BentleyMerrill & Christina BlanksteenMerrill P. BloorAnnabelle BoehmMarc & Debra BoldenJane M. BoltonNorman & Joyce BottenbergGeorge & Phyllis BowerJeanne M. BoydenBrian R. BoyerJana M. BradyWilliam & Georgene BramlageSquire & Carol BressorDavid & Linda BurnhamMatthew J. BurnsAlexander CalderoneJames & Denise CarithersCarrie Lee Music & Fine Arts FoundationCharles & Margaret ChaceKenneth & Sharon ChapmanAnthony & Toni ChardoTonya L. CoffieldLeonard & Corinne CohenAnita J. Coleman Family TrustMark & Ann ColtonJohn & Rosemary ConboyRichard & Helen CovellMichael & Marsha CramerGerald S. CreemJames & Karen CulkeenMichael J. CzuprynaTracy L. Dawson-GreeneRaymond C. De YoungKathleen A. DeMarco

Gordon & Marjorie DensmoreDavid & Carol Ann DeVeuveKenneth DrummWilliam & Ellen DykeElizabeth Romoser ElamEvans DrumheadsGeorge & Donna FarrellRonald & Janice FortinMark & Deena FrankPaul & Janice FreniereDavid & Elizabeth FriedensonAndrew & Sandra FulsAlicia GosselinAlbert & Patricia GraffRichard & Ruth GreenStephen & Beverly GregorioCharles & Jayne HamatyThomas P. HannumDonald W. HansonJonathan F. HartleyJoseph & CarolynRowe HawrylciwWilliam & Elizabeth HayesAlfred & Juanita HealyKenneth & Ruth HedbergJames A. HeerenRichard & Geraldine HeimanKerry & Bonita HendersonRichard & Ruth HillerAmanda M. HirdDorothy G. HmieleskiCynthia Chick HoffkinsHoward J. HolmesAmy K. HooperMikhaela E. HoustonJohn & Margaret HowardTara K. HowardGeorge A. HoweGeorge & Dawn HoweAnthony M. InganoJeanne C. IrwinDaria D. JandaJohn J. JanusBurton L. JonesLisa V. KanwischerDianne S. KearnsJoseph & Karen KelleyPaul & Margaret KellyChristopher & Carol KennedyJean KeyesThomas S. KinneyMichael & Heather KleschBertram W. KlineElizabeth A. KnowlesWilliam & Patricia Kone

Kurt A. KoskinenJames A. KurtyMarilyn F. LacerteWalter & Mary LawrenceWarren & Debra LawrenceSusan L. LeBarronWilliam LeeFrederick & Ruth LevensJoseph D. LevensBrian & Anne LewinRichard & Cecelia LindequistLouis & Pamela LipomiMitchell & Sandra LiroPhilip & Joan LounsburyJon & Colleen LupienDonald & JoAnn LyonWilliam G. MakrisWilliam P. MartynGerald F. MayKerry A. McEachernAgnes J. McGrathMarjorie A. McNuttDouglas R. MedeirosLeslie K. MicetichJanine E. MilakeveRoger & Kathleen MitchellMichael Moore & Mary MorrisWilliam & Jane MooreManuel & Natalie MoraisLaura L. MorelandWilliam H. MorseAlan & Christine MosherAndrew S. MullinDonald & Kimberly MunroArnold & Susan NadlerPaul S. NixonDeborah A. NotingerLaurie E. NyeJennifer L. O’KeefeWilliam & Linda OldachRaymond A. OliverJoseph & Nancy PaganoCarol Ann PappasGeorge & Jeanne ParksKeith M. PaulPearl CorporationCheryl K. PerdueDavid & Gail PerettiCharleen P. PetersonNancy E. PhillipsJohn & Jean PierceBryan & Carol PlumbAlan & Sheila PranskyKenneth Propert

Lawrence Puzzo & Kristine McCuskerZoe R. ReidStephen D. ReynoldsMarc & Charlene RischitelliGerald & Janet RobertsonAmanda RoederJane H. RussLeanna L. RussellFredrick & Sophia SachsMichelle E. SalekBrian T. SalisburyJames M. SantoHeidi I. SarverRichard P. SavageThomas & Maureen SavageMichael N. SavasTodd A. ShapiroPriscilla N. ShermanKathleen E. SkrabaczHarrison T. Smiley, IISusan A. SmithRobert & Cindy SmudaEric Snoek & Theresa HullingerRichard J. SnyderRaymond & Anna SobanskiCarol J. SoniaEdward & Barbara SpragueMary Jane St. JeanAnn Marie StoicaFranz J. StrassmannSonja P. SwainRichard D. TandyScott D. ThompsonRuth D. TitelbaumMark & Lisa TomlinsonDavid & Nancy TrotmanVic Firth, Inc.Eric L. WadeRobert R. WalkerPaul & Cynthia WankowiczEdward & Mary WarnerWendy A. WeidnerRoss & Risa WerblinJoel P. WhalenJohn & Joanne WhalenEdward WheldenDale & Christine WilliamsWalter B. Winchenbach, IIIJames & Christine WolfeHillary M. WonderlickNancy E. WyllieThe Avedis Zildjian Company Inc.Kathleen J. Zokowski

... and thanks

ummbalumni.org — 7

There was a dream that was RomeNEW RECORDINGThis latest CD features music from the 2001-2003 halftime shows: Gladiator, Madonna, Birdland, Get It On, MacArthur Park, Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor, and more.$15, plus shipping.Order at umass.edu/band/

2004 Bands of America DVDRecorded live at the RCA Dome last fall,this DVD features the Minuteman Band’s2004 show in Dolby Digital sound.$30, plus shipping.Order at umass.edu/band/

Through These DoorsThis quality hardcover book traces theMinuteman Band back to the 19th cen-tury. Written by Kerstin Becker ’96, this book features 210 pages of history plus a fullcolor photo insert.Order at oldchapelpress.com

Be Part of the Power & Class. Support the Minuteman Band.

❏ $1,000 ❏ $500 ❏ Other $_______________

❏ $250 ❏ $100

Please designate my gift to the Minuteman Marching Band.

Make a gift online using your VISA, MasterCard, or Discover card at www.umass.edu/development.

Please make checks payable to UMass Amherst. Or use your VISA, MasterCard, or Discover Card.

Number ______________ – ______________ – ______________ – ______________

Exp. date __ _____ Signature ______________________________________________

Please Print: BANDSP05

Name _______________________________________________ Class year ________________

Donor ID # _____________________________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________________________

City, state, zip __________________________________________________________________

Thank you for supporting the Minuteman Band.

Please mail to: Minuteman Marching Band 273 Fine Arts Center University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, MA 01003

(10 digit number above your address information on the reverse of this page)

Tony Lechner ‘93, ‘97G, of Yellow Brick Ed, entertained scores of band alumni at the 1st Annual Spring Fling April 30 in Worcester, MA. Other alumni performing in-clude Paul Melley ‘00, Dave Tallarida ‘94, Brett Jenkins ‘92, Josh Tower ‘96, Eric Melley ‘00, Matt Sexauer ‘01 Scott Pemrick and Matt Lefebvre ‘00.

T H E P O W E R & C L A S S O F N E W E N G L A N D

Nonprofi t Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 2Amherst MA

01002

Minuteman Marching Band A104966Fine Arts CenterUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstAmherst MA 01003

The TourMay 22 – Senior Toast

Top of the Campus, UMass Amherst12:30 p.m., Families are welcomeFollowing graduation, band seniors and their families are invited to relax and reminisce over lunch. RSVPs will be mailed separately.

The drum corps world invades our back-yard this August at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. We’re offering a group package to DCI Finals on August 13th.

Before fi nals competition begins, come gather with fellow alumni and band

friends for some tailgate fun!

Group tickets are $25. Reserve today: ummbalumni.org/dci2005

Made possible in part by a grant fromthe UMass Amherst Alumni Association

2005 DCI World ChampionshipsJuly 26-30 – Drum Major Academy/Mobile Percussion Seminar

UMass AmherstYour band students learn leadership skills from each other!drummajor.org or percussion.org

Aug. 13 – Tailgate at DCI Finals

Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA, $25Come together to cheer on UMass Amherst alumni as they march their way to victory!ummbalumni.org/dci2005

Band Day ‘05 takes place UNDER THE LIGHTS September 24th as the Minutemen take on the University of Rhode Island Rams.

Pre-register your band today at umass.edu/band/bandday/

Oct. 14-15 – Homecoming 2005

UMass AmherstCome march halftime “one more time” as we honor ThomHannum and three decades of excellence.

Check out umass.edu/band/ for news and schedule updates

Sept. 2 – Power & Class Barbecue

Mullins Center, UMass Amherst, $5See the band perform its 2005 show for the fi rst time! An all-you-can-eat BBQ buffet follows.Sponsored by the Minuteman Band Alumni Association