Roman Blenski began playing bugle in 1957 at the start of a lifelong involvement with the drum and bugle corps community. He was also color guard, drill and bugle instructor for a number of corps from 1958 to 1961. He is the long-time executive director of Drum Corps Midwest (DCM), the organization which includes about 30 drum and bugle corps located mostly west of the Great Lakes. At the same time he has also served as executive of Pioneer junior drum and bugle corps, and co-ordinator of the Drum Corps International Division II and III corps. The high-quality performances by DCM corps make the championship tournament a popular annual event. The Midwest All-Star Corps often appears in internationally-televised football bowl parades during Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.