2010 High School Band

George N. Parks

PROFESSOR GEORGE N. PARKS is currently Professor of Music at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. During his career at UMass he has served as Professor of Tuba, Conductor of the University Concert Band, and a member of the Faculty Brass Quintet and for the past 33 years he has been Director of the well known Minuteman Marching Band. George Parks has served as guest conductor for high school, district, region, and various honor bands throughout the nation. In addition, his national reputation in the field of Marching Band has resulted in conducting appearances at such prestigious events as the Gator Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl and the BCS National Championship Football Game. In 2005 and 2009 he was Director of the Music for the All National Honor Marching Band that appeared in the Tournament of Roses Parade. Under his direction, the UMass Minuteman Band has emerged as one the nation's outstanding bands. Their performances include halftime appearances at the New England Patriots, New York Giants Football Games and the Montreal Alouettes Canadian Football Team. The Minuteman Band has appeared at Presidential Inaugural Ceremonies 1981, 1985 and 2001. In 1993, 2001, 2004 and 2007 they performed as the university exhibition at the Bands of America Grand National Championships. In 1998 the Minuteman Marching Band was presented with the Sudler Trophy, the nation’s top college marching band award. In addition to his work with Concert and Marching Bands, he has a national reputation for his work as a Drum Major Performer/Clinician. For 13 years he was featured Drum Major with the 9 time DCA World Champion Reading Buccaneers Senior Drum and Bugle corps. During this time, Buccaneers won the DCA title twice and he won numerous awards for individual performance including the Outstanding Drum Major Award at 8 Drum Corps Associates World Championships. Each summer over 3000 students from throughout the United States attend his Band Leadership and Drum Major Academies. George N. Parks has received the University of Massachusetts Chancellor's Medal for Distinguished Service, University's Distinguished Teachers Award, and the University Award for outstanding creative activity. He is also a member of the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame, the Massachusetts Instrumental Conductors Association's Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association's Lowell Mason Award for his overall contributions to Music Education. In 2006 George Parks was inducted into the Bands of America Hall of Fame. George Parks attended the University of Delaware, received his Music Education Degree from West Chester University and a Master's Degree in Performance from Northwestern University.