Tom Rarick is a drummer’s drummer. His career has been one of total immersion in his craft, from anchoring the snare line of the Cadets in ’94 and ’95, advancing to percussion instructor by ’97, and then making his move to the standard-setting Bluecoats where he holds forth as the percussion composer/arranger to the present day, a master teacher and innovator in the Drum Corps idiom.
He’s also a Master Sergeant, and percussion section leader of the United States Air Force Band’s Ceremonial Brass, having logged over 4,000 performances during his 26 years of service, ranging from 5 Presidential Inaugurations to appearances on NBC’s Today Show to 2500 Arlington services and the state funerals of former presidents Ronald Regan, Gerald Ford, and George Bush.
Amidst all this, Tom has somehow found the time to judge WGI World Championships on multiple occasions, develop his own line of signature sticks and mallets for Innovative Percussion, adjudicate DCA contests for 5 years, and compose and arrange 2 programs for the Troopers.
Imagine opening a Dictionary of Modern Rudimental Drumming and turning to the entry marked “Total Percussionist”. Prominently displayed on that page would be the name, “Tom Rarick, Class of 2023 – World Drum Corps Hall of Fame”.
