Hit Like A Girl, the global online contest for female drummers that drew competitors from 45 countries in 2014, kicks off the 2015 competition today. Now in its fourth year, the 2015 event is shaping up to be the biggest yet.
The 2015 Hit Like A Girl Contest features several returning sponsors as well as some new ones. This year's presenting sponsors are Zildjian, Evans, and DW. Additional sponsors include Sabian, Mapex, Yamaha, Innovative Percussion, Vater, Promark, Puresound, SKB, TRX, Vic Firth, Audix, and Cympad.
Judges Joining 2015 event spokesperson Nellyris "Didi" Negron (Cirque du Soleil) as celebrity judges are Sheila E, Hannah Ford-Welton (Prince), Venzella "Joy" Williams (Beyoncé), Debbie Knox-Hewson (Charli XCX), Kate Schellenbach (Luscious Jackson), Jess Bowen (The Summer Set), Alicia Warrington (Kate Nash), Cherisse Ofusu-Osei (Bryan Ferry) and Nia Lovelis (Cherri Bomb).
The judging panel also includes leading YouTube artists Meytal Cohen, Anika Nilles, Motown legend Bobbye Hall, and Lux Drummerette, as well as 2014 Hit Like A Girl champions Riesha Fayson and Kanade Sato.
Schedule of events 2015 Hit Like A Girl Contest opens for online video entries at 12:01 AM PST on March 1, 2015. Two pair of Weekly Winners will be chosen by celebrity/industry judging teams and announced March 12, 19, 26, April 2, 9 with the entry period closing on April 8.
Fan Voting opens April 10 and closes April 22. The Top Twenty Weekly and fan-selected finalists in both the over and under 18 age divisions will be announced on April 23 followed by celebrity judging from April 24 and May 4. The final winners will be chosen during an online event on May 7.
Prizes Complete acoustic, electronic or hybrid drum kits and accessories will be given away to the first, second, and third finishers in both Under 18 and Over 18 categories. The value of all prizes exceeds $15,000.
Free play-along tracks A selection of more than a dozen free, downloadable play-along tracks for this year's contest are being provided courtesy of Hudson Music, Drum Fun, and Gregg Bissonette. Entrants may use the royalty-free tracks to avoid copyright issues with their entry.
