To the official website of the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band Trombones!
a.k.a. UMMBBONES (Um ba bones)
This past year the trombone section consisted of 24 different players from different locations, as near as Belchertown and as far as Virginia. The section had 6 graduating seniors this season, 6 juniors, 10 sophomores, and 2 freshman. With only two freshmen, the section still had a total of 5 rookies brand new to the Umass Marching Band.About the UMMB
The first organized incarnation of a marching band at UMass that resembles what we have today came about in 1935, when UMass was still known as Massachusetts State College. The band began a long period of growth in its excellence. In 1947, Massachusetts State College became the University of Massachusetts, and the band continued growing, with halftime performance growing in their popularity and prominence at the Massachusetts Redmen games.
In 1972, the Redmen were renamed the Minuteman, and shortly after, in 1977, Mr. George N. Parks was hired to take over John Jenkins' position as director of the Minuteman Marching Band. Bringing his enthusiasm for and experience with marching bands, he helped to catapult the band into the Power and Class of New England it is known as today. In 1998, the band won the Sudler Trophy, the highest award that a collegiate marching band can receive, signifying that the band is one of the best in the nation.
Following a successful fall 2008 season, the band has about 382 performers, needs 8 buses, and has been all over! Recently, the band has performed at many exciting locations: Fanueil Hall, Bands of America Grand Nationals in Indianapolis, Montreal for the Allouettes playoff game, Worcester for Dr. Craig Mello's Nobel Prize party, Symphony Hall in Boston for UMass Night at the Pops, and Chattanooga for the 1-AA national championship game against Appalachian State. Soon, the band plans on traveling to Ireland for their New Year's Day celebration, and joining with the Delaware Blue Hen Band to march together in the parade!
Future of the Trombones
Wherever the band goes the trombones will follow. Currently the band goes everywhere, but has no place to return to. With the condemning of Old Chapel, the iconic home of the UMass Marching Band, the band has not had a building that it could call its own since 1998. In the fall of 2008, the University of Massachusetts pledged 4 million dollars to the building of a new building. Though this is a fantastic start, the building that the band would require costs roughly 8 million. The band itself has currently raised over 1 million dollars for this building, but we are still short of our goal.
If you love this band, click on the Power and Class link below and pledge whatever you can to this amazing band program.
