Guru Drums
Senior Member
First up, a huge thank you to all who took the trouble to enter the Guru Drums In-Tense snare competition. We set a tough challenge, one that got you thinking, & presented an inclusive environment allowing all levels of player to stand a real chance of winning. The results are now back in from the panel of judges. Remember, this was judged agains very specific criteria, that criteria excluding video production quality and displays of chops. Of course, each judge made their own interpretation of the criteria, so judging was from a very broad base. In the judging process, points were awarded for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place from each judge. Those scores were added together to come up with the final 5 (one from each category) that will go through to the live draw this Sunday at the Manchester Drum Show.
So, here's the finalists, & also those who just missed out:
Category:
Under 16.
Finalist = Janis Vernier http://youtu.be/yOGbwMWPK1M
Just missed out = Joe Hann https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00n_uIp1__Y
Beginner
Finalist = Siros Vaziri https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I90guspC6Rk
Just missed out = Julius Yang http://youtu.be/D-ue5cpLosU
Just missed out = Erik Anderson http://youtu.be/SQqIvkKRtrc
Experienced Hobbyist
Finalist = Frank Van De Boom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phFtsNPB1gU&feature=youtu.be
Just missed out = Nathan Shiri http://youtu.be/re6xvJlEI-E
Semi Pro
Finalist - Aaron Black http://youtu.be/Q1nMGtnMeS4
Just missed out = Will Sabol http://youtu.be/zCESmwWbPXA
Just missed out = Jim Fernandez http://youtu.be/-ZrvN82TM9c
Pro
Finalist = Ben Clark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq38MVfLTCI
Just missed out = Laurence Clack http://youtu.be/MAW6bohSa8w
Just missed out = Todd Bishop http://youtu.be/MYm8LG1Veqk
Notable mentions go to Jim Fernandez for putting a smile on the judges faces, George Vincent Dunn for using a snare as a bass drum, & Oliver Dowling for an upbeat performance in trying circumstances.
Here's a few judges remarks:
"I also really liked the imaginative entry by Nathan Shiari who almost took this place but I think the bowed instrument put the snare a bit too much on the sidelines"
"What a name for a drummer!! *Name apart, Frank was amazing - a contender for the whole competition for me! *He got a really really good variety of sounds played with musicality and inventiveness. *The beard at the end threw me over the edge!! Top Marks!! *I feel he also has a great respect for the instrument in the same way Ben Clark has. *excellent work "
"Jim Fernandez! *Not in my top 3 as per criteria but his approach & humour put a big smile on my face!!"
"Aaron Black, hands down the most inventive in the category for me! *I really liked the range of sounds and the use of the different sticks/mallets/brushes AND tuning forks!! Top work!"
"I thought Ben's performance was superb - excellent use of sounds and musicality. *I felt he really has respect for the instrument and knows how to make it sing! *Really put a smile on my face!"
"I really likes Jannis's expression and variety of sounds using mallets, sticks and hands - it had an orchestral players musicality to it which shows real understanding of the drum"
"As a beginner, Amanda has some great ideas and managed to get loads of wonderful inventive sounds out of the drum! *I liked the flicks & the finger strokes were like orchestral tambourine playing - nice! *I really liked the ethereal stick rolling at the end too!!"
Hopefully you can see that the judges spent some time considering their choices carefully.
Come back to this thread next week for the winner announcement!
So, here's the finalists, & also those who just missed out:
Category:
Under 16.
Finalist = Janis Vernier http://youtu.be/yOGbwMWPK1M
Just missed out = Joe Hann https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00n_uIp1__Y
Beginner
Finalist = Siros Vaziri https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I90guspC6Rk
Just missed out = Julius Yang http://youtu.be/D-ue5cpLosU
Just missed out = Erik Anderson http://youtu.be/SQqIvkKRtrc
Experienced Hobbyist
Finalist = Frank Van De Boom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phFtsNPB1gU&feature=youtu.be
Just missed out = Nathan Shiri http://youtu.be/re6xvJlEI-E
Semi Pro
Finalist - Aaron Black http://youtu.be/Q1nMGtnMeS4
Just missed out = Will Sabol http://youtu.be/zCESmwWbPXA
Just missed out = Jim Fernandez http://youtu.be/-ZrvN82TM9c
Pro
Finalist = Ben Clark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq38MVfLTCI
Just missed out = Laurence Clack http://youtu.be/MAW6bohSa8w
Just missed out = Todd Bishop http://youtu.be/MYm8LG1Veqk
Notable mentions go to Jim Fernandez for putting a smile on the judges faces, George Vincent Dunn for using a snare as a bass drum, & Oliver Dowling for an upbeat performance in trying circumstances.
Here's a few judges remarks:
"I also really liked the imaginative entry by Nathan Shiari who almost took this place but I think the bowed instrument put the snare a bit too much on the sidelines"
"What a name for a drummer!! *Name apart, Frank was amazing - a contender for the whole competition for me! *He got a really really good variety of sounds played with musicality and inventiveness. *The beard at the end threw me over the edge!! Top Marks!! *I feel he also has a great respect for the instrument in the same way Ben Clark has. *excellent work "
"Jim Fernandez! *Not in my top 3 as per criteria but his approach & humour put a big smile on my face!!"
"Aaron Black, hands down the most inventive in the category for me! *I really liked the range of sounds and the use of the different sticks/mallets/brushes AND tuning forks!! Top work!"
"I thought Ben's performance was superb - excellent use of sounds and musicality. *I felt he really has respect for the instrument and knows how to make it sing! *Really put a smile on my face!"
"I really likes Jannis's expression and variety of sounds using mallets, sticks and hands - it had an orchestral players musicality to it which shows real understanding of the drum"
"As a beginner, Amanda has some great ideas and managed to get loads of wonderful inventive sounds out of the drum! *I liked the flicks & the finger strokes were like orchestral tambourine playing - nice! *I really liked the ethereal stick rolling at the end too!!"
Hopefully you can see that the judges spent some time considering their choices carefully.
Come back to this thread next week for the winner announcement!