Thom Hannum Joins BAC As Senior Advisor

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Thom Hannum Joins BAC As Senior Advisor

On May 27, 2023, in News, Staff News

The Boston Crusaders organization is excited to welcome Thom Hannum into the role of Senior Advisor. As one of the activity’s foremost arrangers and educators, Thom has long held a connection to the Boston Crusaders, both directly and indirectly, for nearly 30 years.

Thom’s history with the Boston Crusaders first began in the early 1990s. Thom wrote the percussion book for the corps and helped to set up the percussion staffing, thus beginning a fruitful relationship with the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Over the years Thom’s “family” tree of students and graduate students marched in the corps, many of which took on teaching and caption roles. Many of BAC’s current educators share deep ties with Thom and the UMass program including Colin McNutt, Iain Moyer, Jim Ancona, Alex Beltran, Andrew Ricketts, Ian Hale, Taylor Yozwiak, Jarod Sullivan, and Nina Brian-Smith. Under the leadership of Colin McNutt, the percussion program, music program, and drum corps has been recreated.

“Now in year seven of our project, the timing is just ‘right’ and what Thom brings to the organization is very much in tune with our 2023 theme, White Whale, and our relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Chris Holland, Executive Director of the Boston Crusaders. “Personally, it has been a dream of mine to have Colin and Thom here together at Boston. Our students and staffers’ experiences will be enhanced by his presence and insight.”

“Thom Hannum joining the Boston Crusader team is tremendous news for our program,” said Colin McNutt, Director of Percussion. “His wealth of knowledge and wisdom will impact our entire program and enrich the education our students receive.”

Thom 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. He is best known for his work with the DCI World Champion Cadets of Bergen County, Star of Indiana, and Carolina Crown. Thom was a member of the design team for the Tony Award Winning show “Blast!” In the summer of 2001, Mr. Hannum was selected for induction into the DCI Hall of Fame and in 2008 he was inducted into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame. In 2016, Thom was awarded the George N. Parks Leadership in Music Education Award by the National Association for Music Education. In 2018 the Massachusetts Music Educators Association presented Thom with the Lowell Mason Award for his leadership in music education. In 2019 Mr. Hannum received the Distinguished Service to Music Medal which is the highest honor bestowed by Kappa Kappa Psi, a national honorary band fraternity. Most recently Thom was named the recipient of the Paul Smith Hall of Fame Award presented by the Massachusetts Instrumental & Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) at the annual All-State Conference.

For 41 years, from 1980-2021, Thom taught at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is now the Associate Director Emeritus of the Minuteman Marching Band. In addition, during his tenure on campus he was the Director of the Marimba Band & Marimba Ensemble program. He is a product consultant and clinician for the Avedis Zildjian Cymbal Company, Evans Drumheads, the Pearl Corporation, and Vic Firth Sticks & Mallets where he has developed several Signature Series drumsticks and keyboard mallets. Thom is an active member of the Percussive Arts Society. Through the Hal Leonard Corporation, Mr. Hannum has published a Textbook and corresponding Student Workbook, Championship Concepts For Marching Percussion, which provide many band programs with a comprehensive foundation for percussion education. His instructional video produced by Warner Brothers/Chappell, Fundamental Techniques For Marching Percussion, demonstrates many of the concepts outlined in the books. Thom has published percussion arrangements and solos with Warner Brothers, Rowloff Productions, and Drop6 Media, Inc.

Thom’s book, A Percussionist’s Guide to CHECK PATTERNS, is currently available by Alfred Publications. Mr. Hannum is the founder and director of his MOBILE PERCUSSION SEMINAR which offers clinic and workshop programs for high schools and colleges of all ability levels. For more information call 1-800-292-3758 or visit the website at www.percussion.org.