Ian Grom is a full-time composer, educator and sound designer based out of Southern California. He obtained his Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from California State University, Long Beach, where he specialized in drum set, marimba, and composition. He worked professionally as a drum set player in LA before changing his focus solely to the craft of teaching and designing for the marching arts.
His indoor percussion ensembles have become household names, winning an unprecedented 40 WGI medals. Los Alamitos HS (2007-2011), Fountain Valley HS (2006-2009) and Pacifica HS (2005-2011) were all WGI medalists that quickly established Ian as an industry leader capable of writing and teaching with consistent success in any scholastic marching division. Pulse Percussion (2008-present), Chino Hills HS (2007-present) and POW Percussion (2011-2020) however cemented his role as a world class powerhouse in WGI, with a combined total of thirteen WGI World Class Championships since 2010.
He was the first-ever sound designer for the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps from 2009-2012, and quickly became an additional collaborator working closely with Colin McNutt, Iain Moyer, and Jim Ancona. The corps won DCI World Championships in 2011 with their show, Angels and Demons, giving him an opportunity to create with some of the best designers and educators in the activity.
From 2013-2016, he served as an integral part of the Blue Stars design team as music coordinator, front ensemble composer/arranger, sound designer, and additional brass composer/arranger with Richard Saucedo.
Ian’s work as a wind arranger and composer for the marching arts has spanned nearly two decades. His use of original music, modern soundscapes, and innovative show concepts have made him one of the most sought-after composers on the national marching scene. His original works for music libraries and reality TV have been heard on every major TV network in the US and continue to be syndicated globally.
Along with fellow designer and instructor John Mapes, he co-founded Box-Six.com in 2008, which is the exclusive seller of their original indoor percussion and marching band shows.
Ian is an official Yamaha artist, Vic Firth signature artist, Remo and Zildjian artist, and was a member of the WGI Percussion Advisory Board from 2007 to 2019. He lives in Fullerton, CA with his wife, son and mini goldendoodle, Lucy.