Stefan Redtenbacher served as Musical Director for the Zildjian UK Young Drummer of the Year 2026, hosted by Mike Dolbear at Lighthouse Arts Centre, Poole, composing the set piece “Lifeblood” and performing live with finalists.
Zildjian UK Young Drummer of the Year – Lighthouse Arts Centre, Poole
Being invited to write the set piece for the Zildjian UK Young Drummer of the Year 2026 competition was a genuine honour. Hosted by Mike Dolbear at the Lighthouse Arts Centre, the event brought together ten exceptional finalists and a room full of committed supporters of the drum community.
In addition to writing the prepared piece, I had the opportunity to perform an original tune alongside guitarist James Pusey and the finalists. Sharing the stage in that format — the idea is established musicians interacting live with young drummers who had heard the track only three times beforehand — created a focused and demanding, yet highly supportive environment. The level of preparation and musical maturity on display was remarkable.
The Prepared Piece ‘Lifeblood’
Shout out to Carter Arrington (guitar) and Andreas See (saxophone) who played on the prepared track as well as James Welch from Masterlink Productions who mixed and mastered the track. I’m aiming not to write ‘generic’ backing tracks and the tune is actually called ‘Lifeblood’, loosely based on a ‘verse-chorus’ structure with a B section and intro/outro. There are plenty of top lines to follow or play pocket/groove underneath.
The Competition Framework
The success of the event reflected the strength of the team behind it.
Zildjian and its UK team ensured strong industry backing, with CEO John Stephenson travelling from Boston, MA.
– Mike Dolbear and his team (Julie, Rob, Nick, Matt, Seb, Bunnie, Ashton, Dave)
– The judging panel ensured a professional and inspiring framework (Ben Thomas, Ash Soan, Nico Nevermann, Joao Correia, Rob Rolfe, John Stephenson)
– Industry partners Vic Firth, GEWA and Remo supported the initiative with commitment and expertise (Nico Nevermann)
– The in-house production team at the Lighthouse Arts Centre delivered excellent technical execution (Sam, Josh, Stuart, Martha)
– The audience, filled with supportive families and friends, contributed warmth and encouragement throughout the day.
Musical Interpretation and Individual Voice
What stood out most was the individuality of each finalist’s interpretation of the prepared piece. The task was identical; the outcomes were not. There were thoughtful decisions in groove construction, orchestration around the kit, dynamics, cymbal work and phrasing. Some leaned into clarity and deep pocket, others explored texture and extended vocabulary. All performed with conviction.
Equally impressive was their ability to perform live with James and me under real performance conditions. Responding musically in real time, especially with limited prior exposure to the material, demonstrated adaptability and genuine musicianship.
2026 UK Winner and Finalists
Congratulations to Ellis Yan Kei Gates, winner of this year’s UK competition.
The full list of finalists – all winners to me:
Ethan Osahn
Jackson Walker
James Roland
Jamie Hilton
Karl Prah
Kingsley Asamoah
Oscar Robinson
Preston Conway Ssekandi
Thomas Fruin Ockenden
The overall standard made judging an unenviable task. As I understand, the margins were narrow, and each participant brought something distinctive to the stage. From my perspective, they are all winners in terms of commitment, growth and musical courage.
Looking Ahead
The UK edition demonstrated how structured competitions can nurture confidence, technical development and community cohesion. I look forward to contributing to the German competition in April and continuing to support initiatives that strengthen the drumming ecosystem from the ground up.
Events like this reaffirm the importance of collaboration, preparation and live musical interaction — principles that remain central to meaningful music-making at every level.