We are thrilled to share that Lower Sixth student Ellis has been crowned winner of the prestigious Zildjian Young Drummer of the Year competition, held at Lighthouse arts venue in Poole.
After finishing in the top 10 last year, Ellis was keen to return to the competition, relive the incredible experience and build on what he had learned.
“The competition was an amazing experience, just as it was last year,” he said. “I met some brilliant drummers, and we connected straight away backstage because of our shared love for music.”
The live final is famously demanding. Each of the ten finalists must perform a two minute solo, play along to a backing track prepared in advance, and then perform with a live band on a piece heard for the first time that day. The event aims to test not only technical brilliance but musicianship, creativity and composure.
“This year I felt more prepared, and when I performed my solo, I felt calm and focused,” Ellis explained. “Winning was a huge honour and something I’m very grateful for. It has encouraged me to keep working hard and continue developing as a musician.”
Ellis has been immersed in music from an early age and is a dedicated member of Trinity’s musical community, performing across multiple ensembles and jazz bands, continually refining his craft. Alongside school, he trains at the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy and has ambitious plans to study music in New York in the future after completing his A Levels next year.
“I feel very fortunate to have found something I love so much at a young age. I just want to keep learning, improving, and making the most of every opportunity that comes my way.”
A brilliant achievement, well done Ellis!
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To read more about Ellis’ journey, click here for last year’s article.
Parts of this article are replicated from a Lighthouse news story.
Photos by Dave Hughes.
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