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. His father played the organ in the family's living room, and 8-year-old Chris quickly discovered its programmed drumbeats. "I also learned how to use a record player and would pretend I was drumming along to my father's collection of jazz and popular music albums," he said. "My first music lesson was with a renowned, retired band director. After the lesson, he told my mother, 'Yes, your son should learn music and should be a drummer!' "

One of his first gigs was playing drums 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 Susannah 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 worked with Charlie Daniels, Lee Greenwood, and Margo Smith.

“I gained a lot of great experience working with jazz, Broadway, and country artists including legendary musicians Hank Jones, Gary Foster, Philippe LeJeune, 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. "I've always enjoyed the teaching side of music," he said. "I've been told by many former professors and mentors that I have the personality and gift of communication that is engaging and appealing. But what I really love about teaching is helping students find a way, regardless of their level of expertise, to be the best they can be and to achieve greater things. I do this by inspiring them to self-evaluate and to work hard to improve."

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 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. For 15 years and 876 games, Chris directed the band at NCAA championship tournament games across the country, including at the 2011 Women's National Championship in Indianapolis. "It was one way I could leave my mark on Texas A&M, and it will endure long after I am gone. That's a great feeling to have." 

One week after returning home from that national basketball championship, his only child, Christopher, now 10 years old, was born.  

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. "First, I am a teacher. Second, I am a drummer." He still drums with a country band at Santa's Wonderland and with a local Lutheran church, and he remains versatile, playing with wind ensembles and symphony orchestras performing pop, jazz, and contemporary music. "Playing live music is sort of my side hustle." 

Now in his 18th year of teaching at Texas A&M, Chris says he appreciates the opportunity to have this career in College Station in a university environment. "This place is unique in its history, culture, and traditions. It doesn't follow the trends of other universities, which is refreshing in a copy-paste world. It provides limitless opportunities for students in the way of resources, learning, practice, and performance, to develop knowledge and skills in their chosen field to be competitive in the world. I see that happen every single day."