Sabian - Because Sound Matters

Larrie Londin Scholarship Winners 08

Aug 20, 2008

17 and under
Kolton Stewart, Ontario, Canada
Kolton Stewart was eight years old when he submitted a video for the Larrie London
Scholarship and was thrilled to have won such an award. He has never had any formal drum lessons, and with his award he is going to be taking percussion lessons to continue fine tuning his skills. He has been drumming on his own since he was about three years old. An older gentleman who gave him a pair of drumsticks told Kolton's mom, "Your son is going to be a great drummer one day!" When he was five years old he joined the Port Dover High School Community Band and continues in this band today. He has won several first-place awards with this band, and also won awards for solo drumming at drumming competitions. He placed first when he was six years old at the Port Elgin Star Search Contest where he competed against youth up to age 13. He wrote and composed his own tenor and snare drum score and continues to compose music today. Kolton's next dream is to attend PASIC where he can soak up all the talent and passion that performers in this arena will have.

17 and under
Darek Cline Cobbs, Portage, MI
This 17-year-old is a 2008 graduate of Portage Northern High School where he was actively involved as a percussionist in the Wind Ensemble band. Darek attends Christian Life Center and is co-music director of its 12-member band, in which he plays keyboard and drums. Many of the instrumental arrangements attest to his sensitivity in regard to music structure and composition. Darek has performed locally at District 211 with Sean "Thunder" Wallace and with the jazz groups Knee Deep Shag and Kind of Blue at The Union in downtown Kalamazoo. Darek has also performed with gospel greats Kirk Franklin, Twinkie Clark, Byron Cage and other gospel luminaries. His 2006 instrumental CD release, Take Me Higher, contains a mixture of Darek's original compositions in such styles as gospel, jazz, rock, praise and worship, ballad and soul. Beginning in Fall 2008, Darek will study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

18 and over
Jonathan Barber, Hartford, CT
Jonathan Barber has been playing the drums his entire life. By growing up in the Church of the Living God Inc., he realized he had a gift in music. Jonathan attended the Artists Collective, where he studied with Master Artist Renee Mclean. He has had the opportunity to perform with such musical artist as Larry Willis, Jimmy Greene, Benito Gonzales, Antoine Roney, Steve Davis, Nat Reeves, Eric McPherson, Mike DiRubbo, Vicente Archer, Josh Evans and many more. Jonathan has won awards and participated
in music festivals in Toronto, Virginia Beach, Myrtle Beach and Boston. He is currently in pursuit of a Bachelor?s degree in Jazz Studies at the Jackie Mclean Institute in Hartt School of Music.