From 1998 to 2011, Michael Gaines was the drill designer and visual coordinator for The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, and served on the design team for all 7 of their Drum Corps International World Championship titles. Beginning in 2017, he became the Creative Director for Vanguard Music and Performing Arts. He currently writes for some of the top high school marching bands and winter color guards in the United States. His designs have been featured by several high school Bands of America National Champions, the most recent being the 2017 BOA Grand National Champion Carmel HS, as well as 6 time WGI World Champion, Pride of Cincinnati, and 4 time WGI Scholastic World Champion, Carmel High School.
In addition to his work in the U.S., Michael has had the opportunity to design for groups internationally, including three time WGI Medalist Aimachi Color Guard, three time WGI Medalist Aimachi Percussion Ensemble, and WGI World Champion Aimachi Winds from Nagoya, Japan. He has been an adjudicator and the featured clinician at events around the US, Japan, Thailand, The Netherlands, China, Malaysia, and Colombia.
In April of 2007, Michael was inducted into the WGI Hall of Fame, and in August of 2011 he was inducted into to the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame.

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