10th Annual
Big Drum Bonanza

Simon Phillips

Simon Phillips is a GRAMMY® Award-nominated drummer, producer and composer.

Regarded as one of the world’s most renowned and respected drummers, Simon’s style not only reflects his technical gift but also his distinct musical sensibility. Whether it is rock, fusion or jazz, Simon applies the same precision and intensity to his drumming, which is never lacking in emotion and feel.

Throughout the 1970s and 80s, Simon has worked with rock bands and artists including Jeff Beck, Michael Schenker, Nik Kershaw, Mike Oldfield, Judas Priest, Mike Rutherford, Tears for Fears, 10cc and The Who. After Jeff Porcaro’s death in 1992, he became part of the world-famous rock band Toto. After leaving the group in 2014, Simon ventured into the fusion and progressive rock worlds as both a drummer and producer.

Kenny Aronoff

Kenny Aronoff is one of the most influential and in demand drummers and percussionists in the world. He has entertained millions of people with his drumming, has played on thousands of records, and has been the “go to” drummer for the biggest stars in music while provi ding the beat of American culture over four decades!

Kenny grew up in a big country farmhouse in a small town of 3,000 people in the hills of western Massachusetts. He was a self – taught drummer who at the young age of 16 decided to learn how to play timpan i, mallets, and legit snare drum. He studied and played with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, including world – renowned timpanist Vic Firth. He went on to study one year at the university of Massachusetts and four years at Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana, where among other honors, he was awarded the school’s prestigious performer’s certificate. During summer breaks, when he wasn’t studying timpani with Vic Firth, he played in symphony orchestras at the Aspen Music Festival ( run by the Juilliard School of Music ) and the Tanglewood Music Festival (run by the Boston Symphony Orchestra). After graduating, Kenny was offered timpani positions in several symphony orchestras, but instead said “no” because he still wanted to be in a rock ‘n’ roll band and be part of a team of musicians that recorded music and toured the world, just like The Beatles did. Kenny spent one year studying drum set with Alan Dawson in Boston and Gary Chester in New York before moving back to Bloomington to start his own band, “ Streamwinner .”

Three years later in 1980, he joined the John Mellencamp band, recording 10 albums and toured with him for over a 17 – year period. Kenny’s innovative style and solid backbeats became the driving force behind Mellencamp’s long run of definitive hit records in the ’80s and ’90s.

In addition, Kenny is an enormously successful studio musician recording over 300 MILLION records in sales with more than 1300 that were RIAA Certified Gold, Platinum Or Diamond. A true renaissance m an, Kenny is also a best – selling author , television show host, and accomplished corporate speaker , having taken the stage for top universities, corporation s, and organizations around the world!

AWARDS: #1 Studio Drummer – Modern Drummer Magazine (5X) / #1 Studio Drummer – DRUM! Magazine (3X) / #1 Pop/Mainstream Drummer – Modern Drummer Magazine (5X) / #1 Studio/Session Drummer – Rhythm Magazine / “Top 100 Gr eatest Drummers of All Time” – Rolling Stone Magazine

EDUCATION: Alumnus of UMass and Indiana University / Associate Professor at Indiana University (4 Years) / “Kenny Aronoff Percussion Scholarship” at Indiana University (20 years)

Russ Miller

 Russ Miller has been one of the most internationally recognizable names in drumming, for the past two decades.  As a recording artist, he has played on over five-hundred albums, selling more than 30 million copies.  Russ’ movie credits number over 150 and have earned more than a Billion dollars at the box office.   His musical versatility has led him to work with an incredible list of legendary artists, from Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Tina Turner & Bobby Caldwell to Andrea Bocelli, Nelly Furtado, The Psychedelic Furs, Hilary Duff, Steve Perry and countless others.   As a star of the Los Angeles studio scene, Russ has topped dozens of Readers Polls globally, for his contributions to studio drumming and popular music.  Along with his many sideman recording and touring credits, he has been a staple on T.V. “house bands” such as “American Idol”.  Russ is an “International Platinum“ endorsing artist for Mapex Drums, Zildjian, Remo, Vic Firth, DW racks and hardware, Zoom AV products, Porter & Davies Tactile monitoring, Hercules stands, May E/A Mics, Prologix, SKB cases, Arrel Audio Electronics, Puresound Snares, Cympad, Switchkick, Audio Technica and Meinl music instruments. He holds guest professorships at the Shanghai and Beijing Conservatories of Music. Russ has authored 5 Award-Winning books and has 6 Instructional videos published. Creating over 80 products for 11 different manufacturers of musical instruments, has his Signature instruments placed in the Percussive Arts Society International Museum.  Russ has also led his own band touring globally and has 6 solo albums. 

Sarah Thawer

Sarah Thawer is a drummer and vocalist based in Los Angeles, California, originally from Toronto, Canada. She started playing drums at 2-years-old and her first stage performance was at 5.

Sarah works with different artists and musicians, as well as solo and with her own band. She is known for her versatility, playing a wide range of genres from jazz and fusion to Indian/world, funk, r&b, and hip-hop.

Sarah has performed and worked with various artists including Teyana Taylor, Jacob Collier, Steve Vai, Jon Batiste, Sheila E., A.R. Rahman, Alex Isley, George Watsky, Charlotte Day Wilson, Mark Lettieri, Tegan and Sara, Osman Mir, and Broken Social Scene. She has also played for composer, Ludwig Göransson for the 2022 Disney & Pixar movie, Turning Red. Sarah has also performed for Late Night With Seth Meyers and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

Jotan Afanador

Jotan Afanador was born on July 14, 1981, in Bronx, New York. At the age of two he was already playing drums! Jotan inherited his musical talent from his parents. His father was a drummer, and his mother was a gospel singer. At fourteen, Jotan had his first paying gig, and shortly thereafter, he began to play regularly at churches, theaters, clubs and studios. Although he was a self – taught drummer, Jotan studied at Boy’s Harbor Conservatory of Music in Manhattan, New York, during his high school years. It was at this here where he was awarded the prominent Tito Puente Scholarship. It was also around this time that Jotan played in the Broadway show Bring Out the Noise, Bring Out the Funk .

A t the age of 21, Jotan participated in the competition for the World’s Fastest Drummer for the Hands in 2002’s Vans Warped Tour in New York. He was able to set a record, playing an amazing 1,123 single strokes in 60 seconds! Jotan’s record has been featur ed in shows like XSTV – Xtreme, VH1 Music First, and As Seen on TV. Besides Jotan’s unique speed, his musical talent as a drummer has been showcased in a broad and varied list of television programs. He has appeared in The Wayne Brady Show , Tom Arnold’s Be st Damn Sports Show , Cold Pizza, and The George López Show where he appeared with the group Aventura.

In addition to English – language television, Jotan’s bilingualism has enabled him to be part of Spanish – language television programs. In 2004, he did a d rum solo in Univisión’s highest – rated television program, named Sábado Gigante, with its host, Don Francisco. In addition, he has appeared on numerous Puerto Rican television talk shows such as Anda pal’ cará and No te duermas , all promoting the island’s prestigious drumming event, Drummer’s Choir Day. It was precisely during the Drummer’s Choir Day event on April 9, 2005, where Jotan once again set a new world record of 1,219 single strokes in 60 seconds before 20,000 viewers.

In addition to his many te levision appearances, Jotan has had the opportunity to play at well – known venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Jacob Javis Center, Shea Stadium, Staple Center, The Blue Note and the MCI Center. He has also played in events such as Calle 8 Latin Fe stival in Miami, Florida, the JVC Jazz Festival, and for Project Dance, an event featuring New York’s top dancers. His audience has included the sports world’s most talented athletes and coaches ranging from baseball’s major league, the NFL, and the NHL w hen he performed at the World Class Athlete and Coaches Conference held in Los Angeles, and when he played for the New York Yankees’ All – Star Catcher, Jorge Posada at The Jorge Posada Foundation. Afanador’s list of prestigious audience members even include s former U.S. President George W. Bush.

Throughout the years, Jotan has brought his creativity and different styles of playing to the stage with renowned and musically diverse artists. He has joined artists and bands such as Sergio Mendes, Frankie Jay, Do n Omar, Wisin y Yandel, Tito Puente’ s Big Band, Victor Manuel, and Olga Tañón, among others. Most recently, Jotan has played with the bachata music group, Aventura. In 2006, he played with them before one million fans, the group’s largest crowd yet. Aven tura has been, without a doubt, the most recently acclaimed Sony Music Latin boy band. They are Latin Grammy winners, Billboard record breakers, the most heard band on Spanish radio stations in the U.S. and Latin America, as well as the group that sold out more concerts than any other artist in 2008. Jotan has toured and recorded on the most recent Aventura albums called K.O.B Live , Sold Out at Madison Square Garden .

Jotan’s achievements also include performing a solo for Lady Gaga, and recording for super star Jennifer López. Jotan Afanador is by all means an international artist, not only because of the diversity of his musical background and expertise. He has toured extensively in Canada, Central and South America, the Netherlands, France, and England. C urrently, Jotan has been featured on the TBS sitcom TV show called Are We There Yet? , produced by rapper actor Ice Cube, airing October 2011. Jotan’s main goals are taking his drum playing all over the world and to inspire and touch the lives of many, bo th drummers and non – drummers alike. Jotan Afanador is currently endorsed by Vic Firth, Sabian, Canopus, Beato, Drumometer, Evans, KickPort.