By Sondra White ’87

From a young age in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio, Chris Hollar could feel the beat in his heart—a drumbeat that slowly took shape as a calling, a passion, and later a lifelong career performing and teaching music. 

One of his first gigs was playing drums at what age? with the Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps, a world-class musical marching unit consisting of brass, percussion, and electronic instruments, and a color guard that competes internationally and performs in parades, festivals, and other civic functions.

It was during that time that he met his wife NAME and in 1993 began working on a degree in studio music and jazz studies at the University of Tennessee. After the couple married, Chris performed for several years with legendary jazz pianists and saxophonists, Broadway stars Mary Costa and Susan Anton, and symphony pops orchestras. He also played with Charlie Daniels, Lee Greenwood, and Margo Smith.

“I gained a lot of great experience working with several jazz, broadway and country artists including legendary musicians Hank Jones, Woody Herman, Gary Foster, Philippe LeJune, and Chris Brubeck, son of the late Dave Brubeck.” 

Besides performing, Chris wanted to share his knowledge and passion with students, so he accepted a teaching position at Anderson County High School in eastern Tennessee, where he also worked as percussion director of the marching band and drumline, and the jazz band, teaching private lessons as a side gig.

Eventually his teaching experience led him back to the University of Tennessee in 2001 where he was director of the University of Tennessee Drumline while completing a master’s degree in music and jazz studies. With a graduate degree in hand, he spent the following fall semester as an adjunct professor at both Maryville College in Tennessee and across the border at Mars Hill College in North Carolina.

A few years later, Aggieland called. Texas A&M University was looking to start a new pep band for athletics and also wanted to resurrect its dormant jazz band ensemble. “It’s not often that you see a job post that involves both a jazz and pep band, and I just happened to have strong experience in both,” he said. “So I filled out the application but held onto it for a few days before hitting send, not thinking I would hear anything back.” Two weeks later, in 2004, he was working at Texas A&M.

“I built the Hullabaloo Band program for the Department of Athletics,” he said, “and simultaneously revived and grew Texas A&M’s jazz program, holding a 50-50 position between the two departments for 15 years.” The Hullabaloo Band is an athletic department sponsored student organization of 150 musicians who serve as the official pep band of Texas A&M, supporting volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball at all regular season home and post-season tournament games. 

In 2011, one week after returning home from the Women’s Basketball National Championship, his son Christopher was born. Info about Christopher and possibly a quote about the national championship experience. 

By 2019 Chris was working 100 percent with the Department of Music Activities in the Division of Student Affairs as associate director of bands for jazz and facility manager of the new John D. White ’70 - Robert L. Walker ’58 Music Activities Center. 

“I’m now in my 18th year of teaching at Texas A&M, and I so very much appreciate the opportunity to have this career in College Station in a university environment. I enjoy working with my colleagues and of course the amazing Aggie musicians I teach every day.”