Monday, January 1, 2018 by Mary O'Connor | holiday

Also, my DH and DS graduated from UMass Amherst!  Many of my best friends were in the marching band...but I couldn't take my piano.  LOL

The internationally televised parade steps off at 11 a.m. EST. UMass joins 20 other marching bands selected from around the country to participate in the parade, as well as marching bands from the University of Oklahoma and the University of Georgia, the two teams playing in the Rose Bowl football game later in the day on Jan. 1.

"Since UMass Amherst is the Commonwealth's campus, we consider ourselves to be the Commonwealth’s band,” said Band Director Timothy Todd Anderson. “We can’t wait to represent not only our university, but all of Massachusetts for millions of people. It’s our way to tell the world what UMass is all about.”

UMass Amherst, the flagship campus of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the largest public research university in New England, distinguished by the excellence and breadth of its academic, research and community programs.

Founded in 1863 and home to nearly 30,000 total undergraduate and graduate students, UMass ranks no. 27 in a field of more than 700 public, four-year colleges across the nation, according to the U.S. News & World Report's latest annual college guide.

UMass Amherst stretches across more than 1,400 acres of land in the historic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, providing a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers - campus sits 90 miles from Boston and 175 miles from New York City. The idyllic college town of Amherst is home to hiking, biking, museums, music, theater, history, food, farms and much more. UMass Amherst also joins a local consortium of five nationally recognized colleges, including Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith colleges.

Where to watch the Rose Parade beginning at 11 a.m. EST on January 1:

• NBC television
• ABC television
• The Hallmark Channel
• HGTV
• Univision
• RFD TV
• Amazon Prime for members with a Prime Account
• Streaming live at ktla.com/roseparade or without commentary on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ktla5

The Minuteman Marching Band is scheduled as the 11th marching unit in the parade, so be sure to tune in right at 11 so you don't miss the band!

Michael Galetta '19 and Jaclyn Nicholson '19 talk about joining the family of the UMass Amherst Minuteman Marching Band and their performance in the Tournament of Roses - Rose Parade, January 1, 2018.

Talia Kuras '18 fills us in on the Color Guard's special role in the UMass Amherst Minuteman Marching Band, leading up to the band's historic performance in the Tournament of Roses - Rose Parade, January 1, 2018.

The UMass Amherst Minuteman Marching Band debuts new uniforms at the Rose Parade, January 1, 2018 on ABC and NBC at 11a.m. ET. The band wishes to thank everyone who donated to the uniform fund, providing their first new look since 2000.

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