Thom Hannum

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.

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.

Mobile Percussion Seminar

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, please contact us.