Calling All Young Drumming Talents!
Are you ready to rock the stage and showcase your drumming prowess?
LEH Foshan International School proudly presents the return of the International Young Drummer Competition, a high-octane showcase returning for its second year to uncover and celebrate the region’s most promising young percussionists.
Whether you’re a budding talent or a seasoned player, this is your chance to shine on a regional stage and make your mark in the world of drumming.
A Message from Mr Smale, International Young Drummer Artistic Director
This competition will be electrifying! On the judging panel are three world-class international experts, and we’ve prepared certificates, trophies and lined up some incredible prizes for the winners. For young drummers, this is the ultimate stage to showcase your precision, creativity in chart interpretation, and technical mastery. So warm up those sticks - it’s time to bring your best!
Event Details
Date: 19th September 2026
Time: 9:00 – 18:00
Venue: LEH Foshan International School
Competition Categories
The competition is divided into three age-based categories:
Ages 5–8: Any Grade 2 level song from a major international exam board (Rockschool, Trinity College London, ABRSM, LCM)
Ages 9–12: Any Grade 4 level song from a major international exam board (Rockschool, Trinity College London, ABRSM, LCM)
Ages 13–18: Any Grade 8 level song from a major international exam board (Rockschool, Trinity College London, ABRSM, LCM)
Participants can also select an alternative piece at the same level as the above-suggested options.
Why Join the Competition?
Beyond the thrill of performance, this competition offers unparalleled opportunities:
√Prestigious Platform: Compete against top young drummers and gain regional recognition.
√ International Judge Feedback: Receive expert insights from globally acclaimed percussionists (see below).
√ Prizes & Recognition: Win prizes, certificates, and the chance to perform at high-profile events.
√ Live Event Experience: Showcase your skills in a high-energy, professionally staged production.
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Star-Studded Judging Panel
Mark McDonald
Mark McDonald is a highly accomplished British percussionist with over a decade of professional experience, most notably serving as Principal Timpanist with the Ulster Orchestra from 2013 to 2024. A graduate of Trinity College of Music with a First-Class Honours degree, Mark performs regularly with many of the UK’s leading orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Philharmonia, and Royal Scottish National Orchestra, as well as internationally with ensembles such as the St. Petersburg and Trondheim Symphony Orchestras. He has worked extensively in musical theatre as a drummer and percussionist, performing in West End productions including The Lion King, Wicked, West Side Story, and We Will Rock You. Renowned for his musical versatility, technical precision, and broad stylistic range, Mark is a sought-after performer in both orchestral and theatrical circles.
Saturnino Tiamson
Saturnino “Satur” Tiamson Jr. is a highly respected percussionist, educator, and clinician whose career has made a lasting impact across Asia. Recognised by Time Out Magazine as one of the Top 20 Musicians in Hong Kong in 2008, Satur brings decades of experience and an extraordinary breadth of musical expertise.
Currently, he teaches drums and percussion at several prestigious institutions, including Harrow International School Hong Kong, The ISF Academy, and Discovery Bay International School. He also serves as President of PASAMBAP, a 73-year-old national band association in the Philippines, and sits on the Artistic Advisory Board for the Wind Bands Association Symposium 2026.
A dedicated educator, Satur has conducted hundreds of clinics in schools, community bands, and festivals, appearing at events such as the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), TEDx Hong Kong, and Disney Performing Arts Band Workshops. He is an active member of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), serving as Chair of the PAS International Committee and founder of its Philippine Chapter. He proudly endorses Zildjian cymbals, Prologix drum pads, Innovative Percussion, Toca Percussion, and Grover Pro Percussion.
Elmar Berger
Elmar Berger is an Austrian drums and percussion performer and educator. He studied classical percussion with Ulrike Stadler and Martin Kerschbaum, as well as jazz drums with Wolfgang Tozzi, at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, and has been active as an educator in the Austrian music school system since 2013.
Since 2015, he has served as leader and drummer of Big Band West, and in 2022 he was appointed Head of the Percussion Department for the Province of Styria, supporting and coordinating percussion educators across the region. In 2025, he became a founding instructor and artistic contributor to the newly established Styrian Youth Percussion Ensemble. That same year, he assumed the position of Director of Music School Deutschlandsberg.
Elmar has performed with a wide range of orchestras and ensembles, including the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra, Recreation – Großes Orchester Graz, Wiener Symphoniker, Vienna Classical Players, Wiener Jeunesse Orchester, and the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra. His concert tours have taken him to China, Cyprus, Poland, Germany, Turkey, and several other countries.
Registration and Entry Fee
How to Register:
Entry Fee: RMB 588 per participant
Registration Deadline: 5 September 2026
Enquiries
Contact Details:
Ms Dorothy Feng
Email: dorothy.feng@leh-foshan.cn
Phone number: dial 0757-66881881 and transfer to 8012
If you are an LEH Foshan parent, please contact Ms Kitty Liang
Email address: Kitty.Liang@leh-foshan.cn
Phone number: 0757-66881881
Don’t miss this chance to make your drumming dreams a reality.
Whether you’re aiming to refine your skills, gain exposure, or simply enjoy the joy of playing, International Young Drummer 2026 is the perfect stage for young talents. Register and let your beats echo!
Event Organizer:
Event Partners:
Schlagkunst
Austrian Drumhead Company