About Roger Carter

Roger Carter was first introduced to the world of marching percussion as a student at Mission Viejo High School in Southern California, and later continued his drumming development with the Concord Blue Devils. As a four-year member of BD, culminating with two years as center snare/ section leader, a DCI championship title and a high percussion award, he then spent six years teaching the ensemble, earning three DCI titles and two high percussion awards as a member of the percussion staff. His DCI performing experience also includes the Kingsmen and Velvet Knights drum and bugle corps. Roger holds Associate in Arts Degrees in Music, Liberal Studies, and Interdisciplinary Studies at Saddleback College, in Mission Viejo California, and studied privately with Joey Sellers and Paul Johnson.

Carter’s teaching experience includes Riverside Community College, Blue Devils, Freelancers, Crossmen, Madison Scouts, Broken City, and is currently the Percussion Caption Head for the Bluecoats, from Canton, Ohio. Under his direction, the Bluecoats won the DCI World Championship in 2016 and in 2022 achieved the Fred Sanford High Percussion Award, both firsts in the organization’s 50-year history.

Over several decades, he has instructed a multitude of talented and successful scholastic percussion programs and leads the ensembles at Mission Viejo H.S. and Aliso Niguel H.S. in the Southern California area. In 2023, Roger was named the Director of Marching Percussion for San Diego State University, in San Diego California. As a Signature Artist, Roger performs and instructs with Vic Firth Sticks/Mallets, and is a performing artist with TAMA | Bergerault Marching Percussion, Zildjian Cymbals, and Evans drumheads.