Thom Hannum

Member of DCI & PAS Halls of Fame

Thom Hannum

Thom Hannum has long been regarded as one of the nation’s foremost percussion arrangers, instructors, and clinicians throughout the US, Canada, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

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.

Thom is best known for his work with the DCI World Champion Cadets of Bergen County and Star of Indiana.

Thom worked as the Percussion Director and Arranger for the DCI award-winning Carolina Crown from Ft. Mill, SC in recent years. Thom is currently a Senior Advisor to the Boston Crusaders.

Mr. Hannum was also 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 2018, Thom received the Lowell Mason Award from the Massachusetts Music Educators Association, and in 2019 Kappa Kappa Psi, a national music fraternity, presented Mr. Hannum with the Distinguished Service To Music Medal, their highest honor.

The Massachusetts Instrumental & Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) presented Thom with the prestigious Paul Smith Hall of Fame Award in March of 2020.

Thom's Work at UMass Amherst

Mr. Hannum spent more than 40 years building one of the nation’s premier collegiate percussion programs as the Associate Director of the Minuteman Marching Band.

Thom is a product consultant and clinician for the Avedis Zildjian Cymbal Company, Evans Drum Heads, the Pearl Corporation, and Vic Firth Sticks & Mallets where he has developed several Signature Series drumsticks and keyboard mallets.

Thom Hannum PAS Hall of Fame.

PAS Hall of Fame

“Thom’s involvement and influence in the marching arts has been paramount and formative in the development of the genre,” states Julie Davila, current PAS President and longtime DCI adjudicator.

“There is no doubt that today’s exceptional performances, both in execution and design, are a direct result from his leadership and influence.

“Growing up in the ’80s,” she continues, “I was a student and fan enamored with many of Thom’s championship groups.

His association and tutelage with the Garfield Cadets, the Crossmen, and Star of Indiana were remarkable, and Thom became recognized for his hallmark of musicality, creativity in colors and timbres, and standard-setting precision.”

DCI Hall of Fame

From a member of the Brookhaven Crusaders to a Broadway arranger, Thom Hannum may be one of the most influential percussion arrangers of the 20th Century.

Thom’s work with Crossmen, The Cadets, Star of Indiana, and “Blast!” has been innovative and inspiring to all who have heard or played his arrangements.

Thom is also credited with leading the Garfield Cadets percussion section in 1987 to a perfect score in Percussion Effect, Field and Ensemble Performance Percussion.

Writing & Publications

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.

Thom’s in depth book, A Percussionist’s Guide to Check Patterns, was published by Alfred Publications in early 2009. His instructional video produced by Warner Brothers/Chappell, Fundamental Techniques For Marching Percussion, demonstrates many of the concepts outlined in the books.

In addition, Mr. Hannum has published percussion arrangements and solos with Warner Brothers, Rowloff Productions, and Drop6 Media, Inc.