Bands

Click here for descriptions, meeting times & Fall 09 audition information for
   Wind Ensemble & Symphony Band (pdf file)
Click here for information about the Minuteman Marching Band (MMB website)

The UMass Amherst Bands are open to all students, subject to auditions held at the beginning of each semester, and appear in concert on campus several times a year. The Bands have been selected to represent UMass Amherst at conferences and festivals that have included Symphony Hall in Springfield, MA; the Washington, D.C. home of the Marine Band; and the Capitol Building in Boston.

WIND ENSEMBLE
James Patrick Miller, director
Performs major works in twentieth-century wind literature. Regularly commissions and premieres new works and has recorded the wind music of David Maslanka and Charles Bestor on the Albany and Centaur CD labels. Recently invited to perform at Music Educators National Conference and College Band Directors conferences in Connecticut, New Jersey and the Washington D.C. home of the U.S. Marine Band.

SYMPHONY BAND
James Patrick Miller, director
Performs a wide range of wind literature, including works by composers such as Persichetti, Benson, Woolfenden, Holst, Grainger and Ticheli. Features guest soloists and conductors and has performed at MENC and CBDNA Eastern Division Conventions.

CONCERT BAND
George Parks, conductor
Meets and performs in the spring semester only and features a wide variety of standard band literature. The University Community is particularly encouraged to audition.

MINUTEMAN MARCHING BAND
George Parks, director
Thomas Hannum, associate director
One of the finest university marching bands in the Northeast, this 300-member ensemble performs at home and away football games and makes many guest appearances throughout the region and nationally.

MINUTEMAN HOOP BAND
Thomas Hannum, conductor
Provides musical excitement and spirit at home basketball games and post-season tournaments. Open to students from the entire University Community.