Michael Klesch started his drum corps career at the pinnacle of success. Now a world-renowned brass arranger, he came to drum and bugle corps activity as a piano player who played bass drum with Garfield Cadets in 1982, became drum major in 1983 then moved to the brass staff in 1984. The following year, at 23 years of age, he became brass caption supervisor and arranger, replacing outgoing World Drum Corps Hall of Fame arranger Jim Prime, as the Cadets won their third straight Drum Corps International (DCI) championship. During his time with the Cadets, the corps won DCI titles in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1990 and four Jim Ott Awards for best brass performance. Since he became brass arranger and musical director for Carolina Crown in 2003, the corps won the DCI championship in 2013 and seven Jim Ott Awards. After his connection to the Cadets, he worked with many other top drum and bugle corps. He has established himself as a highly talented and effective educator, working with drum corps including Phantom Regiment, Spirit of Atlanta, Colts, Crossmen, Troopers, The Academy, Hurricanes and Sunrisers. He currently operates his own music arranging business, working with ensembles around the world. He was assistant band director at the University of Massachusetts from 1995 to 2006. He became a member of the Cadets Hall of Fame in 2003 and the DCI Hall of Fame in 2012. He is also a member of the University of Massachusetts UMass Band Hall of Fame.
