• Tony Royster Jr., the child prodigy voted Up and Coming Drummer in Modern Drummer Magazine’s 2000 and 2001 readers’ polls. Tony was featured in the 42nd Grammy Awards and has toured with top Japanese artist Hikaru Utada
  
• Jojo Mayer, expert soloist and clinician, a veteran of drum festivals from the Montreal Drumfest to the Modern Drummer Festival, and initiator of Prohibited Beatz and his solo project Nerve, both of which are taking the New York club scene by storm
  
• Aaron Spears, drummer for R&B/pop phenom Usher who stole the show at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards and performed on Usher’s band, the Funk Rock Orchestra
  
• Derek Roddy, the “dark horse” of death metal: a highly accurate studio drummer who is also talented in other musical styles, and known among those who truly appreciate death metal for his extreme speed and endurance
  
• Nate Morton, drummer for The House Band on the top-rated reality show Rock Star: INXS and Rock Star: Supernova. Nate’s performance credits include Vanessa Carlton and Natalie Cole, as well as with Madonna at the 2002 Grammy Awards
  
• Grant Collins, one of Australia’s foremost drummers and the first of his countrymen ever to play at the prestigious Zildjian Day for Drummers. Grant has been featured alongside such greats as Terry Bozzio, Dave Weckl, Gregg Bissonette and Dom Famularo
  
• Luis Conte, one of the most influential percussionists of his time who has performed for a plethora of star artists ranging from Madonna, Shakira and Santana to Celine Dion, Eric Clapton and Ray Charles
  
• Benny Greb, the king of melodic foot and hand solos, who has featured at the World Drum Festival, the NAMM Show, the Meinl Drum Fest and the Montreal Drumfest. Benny currently teaches at the Hamburg School of Music and is also very active in Germany
  
• Rodney Holmes, who shot to fame playing with Santana and Bob Dylan and has also worked with Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20 and the Brecker brothers. Rodney is well known for his astounding sense of time and the jazz influences he subtly incorporates into his drumming
  
• Jimmy Lee, Singapore’s very own veteran drummer, has played for top selling Asian international singers Stefanie Sun Yanzi, Sun Ho and Taiwanese diva Ah Mei and is well versed in fusion and jazz

Also, a variety of top musicians from both Singapore and abroad – including Jojo Mayer’s own Nerve – will add to the mix, so each of the two days of the Drumfest will feature 7 hours of nonstop drumming excitement.

The Drumfest aims not only to entertain but to inspire and educate. There are two key ways in which it plans to accomplish this:

• Masterclasses conducted by the featured drummers will give those from Singapore and around the Asian region a rare chance to learn from their favourite artists.
  
• A drumming competition, the Drum Challenge, will pit aspiring drummers in two categories against each other in skill, technique, and discipline on 10 chosen rudiments. From the auditions on April 21 and 22, contestants will be progressively eliminated in three exciting rounds, including a May 12 semifinal at Singapore’s Youth Park, till only one is left standing to claim the prize of a premium drumset – and the prestige of playing in front of an audience of some 2,000 as well as the world’s best drummers!

The Singapore Drumfest 2007 is also supported by Modern Drummer Magazine. The main event will be held on June 9 and 10 at the Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hall 601.

Ticket prices range from S$ 85,- to S$ 190,-. Tickets can be purchased through SISTIC at www.sistic.com.sg.