Founder and President of DrumsWest, Ward Durrett has been actively involved in the marching percussion arena since 1971, assisting with the drum lines of the 1972 Guardsmen and 1975 DCI Finalist Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps’ (while serving with the U.S. Navy Band at the Great Lakes Naval Station north of Chicago), as well as supervising and arranging for numerous marching band percussion programs, including Marian Catholic HS (1983-1991).

In December of 1980, Ward conceived of and facilitated the 1^st Spartan Marching Percussion Festival at Glenbrook North HS in Northbrook Illinois, the Festival that launched what is now known worldwide as the Indoor Competitive Percussion Activity. Within this activity, Ward directed the ongoing Spartan Festival for 14 years until 1993; was the Founder and Director of the Percussive Arts Society International Convention Marching Percussion Festival  (1982 through 1986); served as Coordinator of the Bands of America Marching Percussion Festival (1989 through 1995); was the 1st WGI Percussion Coordinator (1993 through 1996); served as WGI Percussion Chief Judge (1998 through 2001) and has assisted the WGI Percussion activity as Percussion Administrator since 2002. In December of 2000, Ward was the 1^st percussionist inducted into the WGI Hall of Fame in recognition of his pioneering service to the Indoor Competitive Percussion Activity.  Ward served as marching percussion instructor and arranger at the University of Northern Colorado from 1999 through 2007 and is currently a guest lecturer there.