Band Day 2023
Each fall, dozens of high school bands join the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band, the Power and Class of New England, for a day of rehearsal and a thrilling halftime performance. Not only is this great fun for all participants, it offers high school musicians a glimpse of what it is like performing in front of a college audience.
This year, Band Day will be held on October 7th, 2023! Registration for band day is available now! Here is more information on this year's band day!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Band Day coordinators at ummbbandday@gmail.com.
General Information for Directors and Students
Directors and students, you can find the music on the Band Directors Page.If you have trouble accessing the music, please reach out to ummbbandday@gmail.com.
Color Guard and Twirlers
Color guard and twirler routines will be taught on Band Day during the morning rehearsal. Routines will be flashy and fun while being simple and repetitive to accommodate all skill levels. Dancers are also welcome and encouraged to participate.
Mr. Thomas Hannum
Band Day Organizer
George N. Parks Band Bld.
110 Grinnell Way
Amherst, MA 01003
When traveling, please take Route 116 to reach McGuirk Stadium efficiently.
Schedule for Band Day
7:30am Visiting Bands Arrive at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Bus greeters will show you to student drop off location.
8:00am Rehearsal begins at Gladchuck Field. Have all instruments, music, and color guard equipment.
9:00am Band Director Meeting on balcony of Football Performance Center.
10:00am Rehearsal ends. Visiting bands return to their buses in Lot 33. Eat bag/box lunches (no tailgating - apologies) and change into uniforms.
11:15am Visiting bands return to McGuirk stadium. No playing in transit to stadium. Enter on ‘visitors’ side.
High School Band seating will be in Sections 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, 13. Watch Pregame and first quarter.
WRISTBANDS: ALL STUDENTS AND DESIGNATED CHAPERONES WILL NEED A WRISTBAND FOR ENTRY INTO THE STADIUM. Each band will receive wristbands for their students and FOUR (4) additional wristbands per bus for staff and chaperones. Equipment vehicles will receive 1 wristband each. The band director is responsible for the distribution of wristbands for entry into the stadium.
12:00pm Kickoff!!
Following the Halftime performance all bands return to their buses, change and put instruments away. Then come back to McGuirk to see remainder of the game and watch the UMASS Marching Band Postgame performance!! Again, ALL STUDENTS AND DESIGNATED CHAPERONES WILL NEED A WRISTBAND FOR RE-ENTRY INTO THE STADIUM.
Postgame All visiting bands will move to the press box side of the stadium for optimal viewing of the UMass Band postgame performance.
4:30pm Postgame performance concludes and visiting bands depart.
Tickets and Parking
For parents, friends, and associates who still need tickets, you can purchase them here. To purchase a parking pass for the game, you can buy that here. It is recommended that you get a parking pass for Lot 22.The tickets for families/friends/associates of Band Day will be in sections 5, 6, 7 so that they have the optimal view of the halftime performance (this is on the UMass sideline).
There is no re-entry to McGuirk Stadium once you have entered with your ticket.
Parking for all Band Day parents is in Lot 22 which opens at 8:00am.
For questions regarding Band Day, please don't hesitate to email the Band Day coordinators Angie Medina and Julia Sullivan at ummbbandday@gmail.com or call Band Day organizer Thomas P. Hannum at (413) 545-6060 for more information.