Mike Gillespie – Owner, Drill for Band .com

Mike Gillespie, visual designer

Over 18 years of experience writing and over three dozen affiliations, teaching and designing, with developing and competitive high school, collegiate and drum corps marching programs are here to help you have a stress-free and successful season.

Don’t waste your time with inexperienced drill writers!

I have been a high school band director, middle school band director and a marching and music technician at numerous high schools of all sizes and backgrounds. I am a musician first and know how to make the music scores you send me come to life on the football field and be achievable and recognized by judges and audiences. I understand the importance of high music scores.

I have judged many high school competitions in music effect, visual effect, music performance individual and ensemble and marching performance. I have an informed, realistic and practical understanding of what high school marching bands are looking to achieve and how the judging sheets and community perceive them. I am able write drill that satisfies the nuance of student leadership, classroom management, and developmentally appropriate staging and motion for high school learners.

Yes, I have worked at some AMAZING award winning drum and bugle corps; however my priority is to write you a show that will make your life easier. I am extremely easy to work with and you can check out my testimonials page for more information on that. When you hire me you’ll receive a short and concise drill questionnaire that will help me understand your needs. I can deliver anything from a DCI caliber show to a 15 page show for bands that meet once a week. My 2011 design for a DCA corps won first in visual design at the championships or if you would like a show that will be easily taught, clear effect, excellent staging and never sacrifices musical achievement I can provide that too.

Some drill writers don’t have a musical bone in their body. I do!

As a professional trumpeter I have toured the world many times over. From national and global touring Broadway shows to playing split-lead with the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra in Japan I will help you help your students perform musically at their highest level. Check out my Experiences page for more information. The instrumentation and scores you send me are more than just symbols.

Marching Experiences

Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps member 2005, 2006 (world champion winners), 2007 (soloist)
Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps member 2002
Pride of Oklahoma member 2007
Jordan High School Alum 2000-2004

Teaching Experiences

Marching Instructor – The United States Army Field Band (Washington, D.C.) 2022
Visual Teacher – Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle (Santa Clara, CA) 2011-2014
Director of Bands – Croatan High School (Newport, NC) 2010-2011
Brass Teacher – Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps (Chicago, IL) 2010
Visual Caption Head – Carolina Gold Drum & Bugle Corps 2010
Marching Band Tech – Panther Creek High School 2006, 2009
Marching Band Tech – Wakefield High School (Raleigh, NC) 2009-2010
Marching Band Tech – Enloe High School 2009, 2011
Marching Band Tech – Moore High School (Moore, OK) 2008
Marching Band Tech – Green Hope High School (Cary, NC) 2006
Marching Band Tech – Jordan High School (Durham, NC) 2004-2005
Middle School Band Director – The Harbour School, Hong Kong, 2017-2019