Donnie has extensive experience in the drum and bugle corps activity. From 1980-84, he was the Brass Caption Head with the Garfield Cadets; winning the Jim Ott Award for high brass in 1983 and 1984 while simultaneously winning their first two world championships. In 1985, VanDoren served as the Brass Caption Head with the Troopers which saw them returning to the DCI finals and placing 9th.

Donnie was the Brass Caption Head with the Star of Indiana in 1986 and from 1988-93. Star won the Jim Ott Award for high brass in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993 with the corps winning the world championships in 1991. From 1994-98, Donnie served as Brass Theater’s Music Manager and helped the organization transition into the BLAST! production that has been performing in the U.S. and abroad since 1999.

In 1998 and 1999, VanDoren was the Brass Caption Head with the Cadets of Bergen County, winning the world championships in 1998. Since 2005, he has been an adviser to both the Blue Stars and Carolina Crown. Donnie VanDoren is an inductee of the Cadets Hall of Fame, the Star of Indiana Wall of Fame, and the DCI Hall of Fame.

Donnie is concurrently the Chief Operating Officer and Casting Director for Mason Entertainment Group, a position he has held since 2005.