Since 1983 when she began working with the Blue Devils, T. J. has collected 15 DCI Championship rings. Most would assume that to be the most significant part of her resume, but it just may be second to the fact that she now joins her father, the late Richard Doucette, legendary Norman Prince performer, as a member of the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame, and how sweetly appropriate that is.
World-famous for her color guard instructional and design skills, T. J. actually began her career with the Saugus Socialites as their mascot, moving on to the soprano line. In ’69, she joined the I. C. Reveries as a lead soprano, eventually becoming their Drum Major. The rifle came next, in the Blue Angel-Reveries, then the North Star from ’76 through ’78. That sealed the deal.
T. J.’s influence is felt coast-to-coast and around the world. She’s taught notable WGI guards like Fantasia, St. Joseph’s, the San Jose Raiders, James Logan, and Diamante, as well as the perennial Japanese champion drum corps, Tokyo’s Renaissance Vanguard.
T. J. Doucette continues her long and successful run with the BD guard, but it’s not how long she’s been teaching that’s significant, it’s how well. As an instructor and mentor, she’s simply incomparable. Just ask her former students. They’ve got big ring collections, too.
