The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass) will hold a special ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 16 celebrating the life and legacy of longtime bandleader George N. Parks who suddenly passed away in September. Parks, a former drum major of the Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps, is well known for his mentorship of tens of thousands of marching musicians who took part in his annual Drum Major Academy. In addition, he led the UMass Minuteman Marching Band for more than 30 years. Earlier this month, tribute was paid to Parks at the Collegiate Marching Band Festival in Allentown, Pa., where 20 bands performed. Dr. John W. Villella and DCI Hall of Fame member Thom Hannum, who has served as Associate Director at UMass for almost as many years as Parks was there, spoke to the crowd before the Minuteman Marching Band's performance.
Learn more about the UMass celebration of Parks' life this Saturday.