2012 V-Drums World Championship: U.S. National Finals

2012 V-Drums World Championship: U.S. National Finals

Texan Patrick Kennedy is Named U.S. Champion

By Drew Armentrout

On a gorgeous Halloween night in Texas, Hall 5 in the Austin Convention Center was transformed into a showcase for exciting drumming and edge-of-your-seat competition. Held on the eve of the annual Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), the U.S. finals for the 2012 V-Drums® World Championship exposed stellar drumming talent and the power and versatility of Roland drums and percussion to an audience of players, educators, students, and general drumming enthusiasts.
Co-sponsored by DRUM! magazine, Drum Workshop, Remo, and Vic Firth, the national finals was the culmination of over four months of exciting drumming competitions in the U.S. The annual V-Drums World Championship gives drummers around the globe a unique opportunity to explore the flexibility and creative options of electronic percussion by competing for Roland percussion products and other prizes.
Beginning with an 11-week online selection process that began in June, nearly 300 drummers submitted video performances that were carefully judged by Roland U.S. staff members. Of the hundreds of submissions, 48 contestants were selected to compete in eight semifinal events in front of live audiences nationwide. These events were held on two consecutive weekends in September, where judges chose the final eight drummers for the national finals.
In Austin on October 31, each of the talented finalists played an original drum performance using the TD-30KV V-Pro® Series V-Drums, OCTAPAD® SPD-30 Percussion Pad, and SPD-SX Sampling Pad. The big winner of the evening was Patrick Kennedy from the Austin suburb of Manor, Texas, who performed a well-constructed solo that combined electronica, real-time loops, and a solid display of groove and fills. Previously a runner-up in the 2011 semifinals, Patrick took it all the way this year, winning a TD-30KV V-Drums set with a set of REMO custom shell wraps, a complete set of DW hardware, dozens of Pat Kennedy signature sticks from Vic Firth, and a year’s subscription to DRUM! magazine. He’ll also represent the United States at the V-Drums World Championship 2, which will be held in April 2013 during the Musikmesse in Frankfurt, Germany.
“It was an honor to participate in the V-Drums national competition,” Patrick reflected on the experience afterwards. “I had an amazing time getting to hang out and talk with Thomas Lang and Johnny Rabb, as well as all of the other contestants. Also, performing for such a tremendous panel of judges in front of a hometown crowd was completely exhilarating. It's exciting to be blessed with the opportunity to bring the title of Roland V-Drums World Champion home to the United States of America!” Patrick was very gracious to acknowledge the support of teachers and professors from his high school and university years, and saluted the local school district for their support and emphasis on music education.
Runner-up was Phillip “P.J.” Hill of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who performed with an exciting blend of technique and hip musical style. The other talented competitors included Brandon Currie from Marietta, Georgia; DeCarlos Davis from Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Jeffrey Fajardo from Brooklyn, New York; Tony “T.J.” Fisher from Long Beach, California; Casey Glass from Loveland, Colorado; and Reed Hayes from Deltona, Florida.
Right before the finals, Jeffrey Fajardo’s flight from Brooklyn was cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy. Undaunted, he rose to the challenge and drove all the way from his home to Austin for the competition, a journey of nearly 2,000 miles! Though he didn’t win, his dedication truly reflects the passion that the annual V-Drums World Championship inspires in its participants.
The contestants performed in front of a lively onsite audience of over 250, while a large, worldwide audience of web viewers watched the live event stream as it was broadcast on the Roland U.S. website.
Johnny Rabb opened the show with his unique drumming style, fascinating the crowd with his finesse, technique, and creative use of V-Drums technology. After the eight contestants played, Thomas Lang performed an extended solo on an expanded double-bass and multi-pedal TD-30KV V-Pro Set, leaving the audience awestruck with his incredible foot technique, energy, and powerful style.
The three celebrity judges included veteran drummer and renowned author Mike Dolbear; 2010 V-Drums U.S. National Finals runner-up Robin Lopez; and the incomparable drummer and educator Johnny Rabb.
“Having the contest at this year’s PASIC event was awesome,” said Roland Percussion Product Manager Tim Root, who once again served as the evening’s emcee. “We were able to introduce Roland V-Drums to a whole new group of drummers and percussionists. We were very pleased at the turnout and our partnership with the Percussive Arts Society. By streaming the contest live, we were able to reach a global audience. Now, it’s on to the V-Drums World Championship 2 finals in Europe—go USA!”

For photos, videos, and further information on the Roland V-Drums World Championship, please visit www.RolandUS.com/VDrumsContest.