Emmons served as drum major of the Troopers from 1962 to 1966. (Drum Corps World)
William “Pete” Emmons, a revolutionary visual designer who broke decades of marching tradition to redefine the visual landscape of competitive drum corps, died on Monday. He was 80, having celebrated his milestone birthday among drum corps friends this past February.
His death was confirmed by David Gibbs, a DCI Hall of Fame member close to the family.
Emmons’ career in the activity spanned decades, tracing a path from performer to visual designer to a long tenure as corps manager for the Blue Devils — a trajectory that embedded him at the very center of the drum corps community.
“Pete was a really, really important person to the Blue Devils organization, and really, to the whole activity,” longtime friend and 2026 DCI Hall of Fame inductee Pat Seidling said. “Such a unique person. Reading all of the social media posts about him, and seeing phrases like ‘renaissance man’ and ‘cowboy,’ ‘big heart’ … what a life he led. He really left nothing on the table.”
Emmons’ drum corps story started in 1958 with the Casper Troopers. A baseball enthusiast as a teenager, he ultimately chose the marching field over the diamond, playing in the Troopers’ horn line before serving as the corps’ drum major from 1962 to 1966.
A one-year stint teaching the Anaheim Kingsmen in 1967 led to an invitation from corps founder Gail Royer to come to the Santa Clara Vanguard. Emmons’ creative juices flowed freely, designing the visual package that complemented Royer’s music book and Fred Sanford’s percussion writing. At the time, drum corps marching leaned heavily toward its militaristic roots, featuring symmetrical maneuvers typically mirrored across the 50-yard line. Emmons pioneered a more choreographed style of movement and asymmetrical drill formations.
“It sounds like one of those obvious things where, well, why wouldn’t you?” DCI Hall of Fame visual designer Michael Gaines said of the shift. “But at that point, it was revolutionary. That was probably one of the biggest benchmarks in our activity, when someone said you don’t have to have the corps be the same on both sides of the field, that it can be asymmetrical as a way of creating variety.”
Writing in 2011, Michael Boo, a drum corps historian and DCI Hall of Fame member, clarified the true depth of Emmons’ innovation. While previous designers had experimented with asymmetry, Boo noted that their configurations were typically just symmetrical shapes shifted away from the 50-yard line. Emmons’ design for Santa Clara Vanguard’s 1980 production broke that mold entirely.
“The first glimpse that the drill form paradigm was shifting came at the end of the 1980 Vanguard drum solo, when a circle rotated on a moving pick, ending in the formation of a star with the drums serving as the tail of a comet,” Boo described. “Coming into the concert standstill a fairly low-pitch asymmetrical arc of horns terminated with the drums continuing the arc by wrapping around a tighter arc.”
“After seeing the show in Denver in late July, a friend sent me a letter proclaiming that part of the drill a shocking sight, comparing it to a man wearing a mustache on just one side of his face,” Boo said. “Today, that drill formation seems so tame. For anyone who wasn’t around during that era, it’s difficult to explain how everyone reacted to that element of the show.”
In the earliest years of Drum Corps International, Emmons helped create one of drum corps’ most iconic moments: Santa Clara Vanguard’s “Bottle Dance,” a tricky maneuver where a group of color guard members locked arms, dropped to the ground and marched forward on their knees in a tight, synchronized line. Emmons said his favorite moment in drum corps was hearing the roaring crowd reaction when they unveiled it in 1973.
“It was Gail Royer’s idea, at first, but then he wasn’t so sure about it,” Emmons explained. “We had a meeting with members of the Jewish faith who explained the whole bottle dance process to us, and warned us first of all, that it was not to be done by women, that it was a dance only exclusively for men. So there was a little concern there for a while whether that was going to be an issue. We talked about it, hemmed and hawed a little and decided, well, we’re just going to go ahead and move forward and let the rocks fall where they may. It turned out to be an iconic moment of drum corps.”
1980 Santa Clara Vanguard
A graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater in New York City, as an actor Emmons appeared in many off-Broadway and San Francisco Bay Area theatrical productions. He put his acting training to work serving as co-host of the DCI Championship broadcast on PBS from 1976 to 1978. Among his partners was game show host Gene Rayburn. “I enjoyed it but it was strange being away from the corps on the biggest night of the season,” Emmons said in his characteristically understated way.
Emmons did a stint with the Freelancers in the ‘80s before taking a break from drum corps. When the Blue Devils came calling in 1988, he found his drum corps home for the rest of his life. He did it all: corps manger, tour director, special events coordinator and assistant to the director as well as drill designer and marching instructor.
“Pete lived life to the fullest,” says David Gibbs, Blue Devils senior executive advisor. “He was one of those guys. Anybody in the activity was touched by him.” Gibbs says he relished late night chats with Emmons in the corps’ RV as the Devils made their way across the country. “He had so many stories.”
Emmons was inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame in 1989 and also holds membership in the Santa Clara Vanguard, Troopers and World Drum Corps Halls of Fame. He finally “aged out” with the Blue Devils after the 2016 season and headed for the wide open hills back in his native Wyoming where he spent time serving as an interpretive guide in Yellowstone National Park and as a docent at the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody.
“I wouldn’t change anything,” Emmons said in a Blue Devils-produced video celebrating his retirement. “I’ve had so many incredible experiences, met so many incredible people. I’ve traveled the world because of drum corps. Drum corps allows you to explore the world more, to explore what’s out there and what’s possible. It was a great ride. It was incredible, just incredible.”
INDIANAPOLIS — Drum Corps International (DCI) today announced a transition in its leadership as Chief Executive Officer Nate Boudreaux departs the organization to pursue the next chapter of his professional career. DCI Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Clevenger has been appointed interim CEO.
Boudreaux, the fourth CEO in DCI’s 50-plus-year history, led meaningful progress across the organization, including growth in sponsorship and donor support, expanded audience engagement, and strengthened business operations.
“The Board of Directors and DCI’s member corps thank Nate for his leadership, dedication, and service to the organization and its mission,” said DCI Board Chair Jonathan Powell. “We wish him the absolute best in his future endeavors.”
The DCI Board of Directors has initiated a search for Boudreaux’s successor. To further ensure a seamless transition through the peak of the competitive calendar, Dan Acheson, who led DCI from 1995 to 2023, will maintain his ongoing advisory relationship with the Board and executive team.
The transition comes as DCI prepares for one of its most anticipated seasons yet. The 2026 DCI Summer Tour is on track to kick off June 26, featuring more than 75 events across more than 30 states, culminating with the DCI World Championships August 3-8.
“Jennifer and the dedicated staff at Drum Corps International have a comprehensive grasp of DCI’s operational and strategic priorities,” Powell said. “Their deep commitment to our mission — bringing the life-enriching benefits of marching music performing arts to more people worldwide — puts us in an incredibly strong position to deliver a safe, successful, and world-class summer season for our corps, performers, and fans.”
Drum Corps International is set to bring the power and precision of the world’s finest marching music ensembles to the big screen. The 2026 edition of “Big, Loud & Live” returns on Thursday, August 6, presented in partnership with Fathom Entertainment, the leading specialty distributor of theatrical content worldwide. USBands and Ultimate Drill Book will serve as marketing partners.
Featuring the DCI World Championship Prelims live from Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis, the annual event showcases the top 15 competing corps. The broadcast is designed to capture every intricate visual detail and musical impact in high definition, providing fans with a cinematic perspective of one of the most competitive nights of the season.
“Our fans responded positively to the return of the cinema event last year, and we’re excited to be back in theaters again with Fathom in 2026,” said DCI CEO Nate Boudreaux. “This live theatrical event gives us the opportunity to showcase the first night of our World Championships to fans from across the country who cannot make the trek to Indianapolis.”
The approximately five-hour event will feature expert analysis, exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews, and real-time scoring. For the DCI fandom, the theatre event offers a “50-yard line seat” to the drama of the 2026 World Championship Prelims, where every hundredth of a point matters in the race to earn a spot among the top 12 finalist corps.
Leading the broadcast once again is a familiar voice of the summer.
“I’ve heard from fans who did what we suggested last year,” said longtime host Steve Rondinaro. “They made the event into a reunion — a party at the movie theater celebrating all things drum corps. Let’s build on that this summer. Check in on social media and make it a national meet-up. It’s drum corps’ night to shine.”
DCI’s cinema events are a tradition that dates back nearly two decades and represents a landmark in alternative cinema.
“Drum Corps International remains one of Fathom Entertainment’s longest-standing partners, and it’s rewarding to see ‘Big, Loud & Live’ return to theatres for a 19th year,” said Ray Nutt, CEO of Fathom Entertainment. “What began as an early vision for live cinema has grown into a nationwide event that brings the World Championship Prelims to tens of thousands of fans each summer. Fathom is proud to continue delivering this one-of-a-kind experience on the big screen.”
Drum Corps International’s Open Class World Championship events are headed to a legendary marching music destination.
Beginning in 2026, the two-day kickoff to DCI World Championships Week will be hosted in Dayton, Ohio.
The move follows a scheduling conflict with Indiana Wesleyan University, which served as the Open Class home for five successful seasons since 2019.
Situated just under two hours east of Indianapolis, the Open Class Prelims and Finals events will take place August 3-4 at the 11,000 seat Welcome Stadium, home of the University of Dayton Flyers. Marching music fans may be familiar with the venue which is situated right next door to the University of Dayton Arena, longtime home of the Winter Guard International World Championships.
“We’re very excited about this new venue for 2026 and the incredible welcome we’ve already received from the city of Dayton,” said DCI Open Class coordinator David Eddleman. “With ample parking and an easy drive on I-70 to and from Indy, this is the perfect place to kick off World Championships Week.”
Today Bluecoats and JER announced the start of a creative partnership for Bluecoats’ SoundSport ensemble Rhythm IN BLUE. JER will be Rhythm IN BLUE’s Artist In Residence for the 2026 season.
A Bluecoats alum (’16 & ’17) and current Bluecoats staff member, JER brings a bold and unmistakable creative voice to the marching arts. JER is a prominent name in the ska music scene, touring across the U.S. and Japan. Among other things, they’re well-known for their high-energy ska covers on Skatune Network.
In 2026, JER will be contributing creatively to the Rhythm IN BLUE production, including arranging music using select works from their catalog and collaborating with the creative team.
The Rhythm IN BLUE 2026 production will debut on June 27, 2026 at Bluecoats Opening Night Community Celebration. The event will be held at the University of Mt. Union and streamed exclusively on FloMarching.
Entering its third season under the Drum Corps International umbrella, the DCI All-Age Class has announced a major shift in its competitive structure. Moving away from tiered sub-classes, the division will now compete as one unified field, mirroring the format of its World and Open Class counterparts.
“Since becoming part of DCI, our corps are growing, we’re having more and more interest in membership,” DCI All-Age Class Coordinator John Carr said. “We have more corps wanting to be part of DCI All-Age, so it was time to move on from sub-classes that were limiting the size and growth of the corps. So, now it’s open, it’s more equal across the board.”
The vote took place among All-Age Class member corps Friday, January 9, as part of the DCI Annual Meeting in Indianapolis.
In the first two years of DCI All-Age Class competition, participating corps were divided into three competitive classifications — World, Open and ‘A’ Class — carrying over a system that was in place during All-Age corps’ years under the Drum Corps Associates heading.
In 2025, Reading Buccaneers (World), Cincinnati Tradition (Open) and Govenaires (A) were awarded class championships at the DCI World Championships. In the subsequent Finals competition, the Buccaneers were crowned the overall DCI All-Age World Champions.
For the 2026 season and going forward, it was important to the various All-Age Class corps and their leaders to unify the division under one competitive umbrella as it continues to grow into the future.
According to Carr, All-Age corps across the board have experienced an uptick in membership interested in each of their three seasons as part of the DCI community. Carr, and his fellow All-Age Class stakeholders, look forward to how the division will continue to grow — organizationally and competitively — in the years ahead.
“I think the report card for DCI All-Age is an A-plus,” Carr said. “It’s going well, the corps are doing well, they’re growing.”
Drum Corps International is set to retire its online Marching Music Downloads store, effective January 1, 2026. This decision means DCI will conclude its direct retail role in the sale of individual performance audio and digital media products.
“For decades, the sounds of Drum Corps International have been cherished by our community, and we recognize and deeply value the loyalty fans have shown to these products,” said DCI CEO Nate Boudreaux. “After considerable review, this difficult decision was made to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the drum corps activity itself.”
This change impacts the sale of individual audio downloads (MP3 and high-quality AIFF files) of recent seasons. The core reason for retiring these downloads centers on the rising costs and complexity associated with production and appropriate compliance in managing these products.
“Simply put, the costs to produce and manage the download model now outweighs the revenue it generates,” Boudreaux said. “Our fiduciary responsibility is to ensure that every dollar DCI receives is maximized to support the participating corps and the health of the activity’s future.”
While DCI will no longer offer individual audio performance downloads or digital media products for purchase, high-quality recordings will continue to be captured and archived annually, making them available to participating organizations, who will be empowered to manage and sell their own unique audio products should they choose to do so.
Audio downloads currently available from the 2022-2024 DCI World Championships will continue to be sold via MarchingMusicDownloads.com through December 31, 2025. Bundled downloads for each of those three years will be discounted 20%. Discount will show once added to shopping cart.
