Timothy Todd Anderson
Director
Director
Timothy Todd Anderson has been at the University of Massachusetts Amherst since 2011. In addition to his marching band responsibilities, Dr. Anderson also directs the Hoop & Ice Band, the Concert Band, teaches Marching Band Techniques and works with student teachers. During the summers, he is the conductor of the Amherst Community Band. Dr. Anderson previously served as the Associate Director of Bands at California State University, Fresno, from 2006 – 2011. He is a frequent clinician and guest conductor with school band programs throughout New England. Dr. Anderson holds the Bachelor of Music from the University of Iowa, the Master of Music in Wind Conducting from the University of Florida, and the Doctorate of Education in Music Education from the University of Illinois. His career began as an instrumental music teacher in the West Marshall Community School District of State Center, Iowa. Dr. Anderson resides in Amherst with his wife Jennifer, their daughter Violet Rose, who is already a big UMass basketball fan, and their cat Gatsby. He can be reached at Email: @email, Phone #: 413-545-6061
Ian Hale
Associate Director
Associate Director
Ian Hale received degrees in percussion performance from the University of Calgary and the University of Massachusetts Amherst where his teachers included Dr. Glenn Price, Eduardo Leandro, and DCI Hall of Fame member and past Associate Director Thom Hannum. Ian was a member of the music faculty at UMass from 2007-2008 and has served as a percussion instructor and clinician ever since. He was the Assistant Director of Bands for the Calgary Stampede Showband from 2009-2011 and has served as Percussion Director for Spirit Winter Percussion from Orleans, Massachusetts since 2012. Ian has worked with many national and international ensembles including the Calgary Stampede Showband, Spirit of America, Thomas Jefferson High School, Dartmouth Indoor Percussion, United Percussion, Boston University, University of Massachusetts, and the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. He was a member of the percussion staff for the Madison Scouts, Carolina Crown, and the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. He is currently on the percussion staff for the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps. He can be reached at @email.
Thom Hannum
Associate Director Emeritus
Associate Director Emeritus
Thom Hannum has been teaching at the University of Massachusetts Amherst since 1984; he has served as the Associate Director of the Minuteman Marching Band as well as the Coordinator of the Marimba Band/Marimba Ensemble program. He received the Distinguished Service to the University Award, recognizing his considerable contributions to the University. Mr. Hannum has long been regarded as one of the nation's foremost percussion arrangers, instructors, and clinicians having presented numerous seminars and workshops throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Thom is also a charter member of the design team for the Tony Award-winning show Blast! He is known internationally for his work with the DCI World Champion Cadets of Bergen County and Star of Indiana. Mr. Hannum is currently the Percussion Coordinator and Arranger for the Carolina Crown. He can be reached at @email.
Chris McHugh Sirard
Assistant Director and Business Manager
Assistant Director and Business Manager
Chris has been the Assistant Director of the UMass Marching Band, serving as Color Guard Director and Visual Coordinator, since 2015. She previously worked as Color Guard Instructor for the UMMB from 1990-1995. As a UMass student, Chris joined the UMMB in 1988, was color guard captain in 1989, and graduated in 1990 with a degree in Communications. Chris taught the Color Guard at the University of South Carolina where she earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music Education, with a concentration in Early Childhood Music Development. She has taught early childhood music in California and Minnesota, and elementary general music classes in Virginia and Massachusetts. She moved back to Amherst in 2013 and happily resumed working with the UMass Guard. She lives in Amherst with her family, and teaches early childhood music classes in the area. She can be reached at Email: @email, Phone #: 413-545-3410
Kristi Ochs
UMass Twirlers Coach
UMass Twirlers Coach
Kristi Ochs has been the UMass Twirlers Coach since 2004. Kristi was the Feature Twirler with the University of Akron Zips Marching Band in Akron, Ohio for 5 years and graduated in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. Kristi has been a Site Director and Lead Teacher for a preschool program through Head Start for over 20 years. Kristi coaches the Belchertown Twirlers through the Belchertown Recreation Department. Kristi was the first twirler at Belchertown High School and is the coach of the twirlers with both the Belchertown and South Hadley High School Marching Bands. Kristi is a former State, Regional and National Champion and has coached many twirlers to State, Regional and National Titles. Kristi is the Co-Director of the Massachusetts State and Northeast Regional Twirling Championships. Kristi was inducted in the University of Massachusetts Hall of Fame in 2019. In 2024 Kristi was awarded the GEM Distinguished Service Award for a contagious spirit, long team service and unending support in twirling. Kristi resides in South Hadley with her family and has a daughter Delaney who is the Feature Twirler at South Hadley High School as a Middle School Student. She can be reached at @email