Drumming News :
The car ride back to Morden in south London on 15 February was a memorable one for 16-year-old Ellis Gates and his family. After winning the prestigious Zildjian Young Drummer of the Year at Lighthouse Poole, Ellis was heading home with more than just a trophy — he was also bringing back the drum kit he had competed on.
Fitting the full-sized kit into the car made for a cramped journey.
“They were packed in like boulders crushing me. It was a painful journey!” Ellis laughed.
Despite the uncomfortable trip home, the win was still sinking in days later as he sat behind the new kit in his garden studio, where a plaque on the wall now proudly declares him Young Drummer of the Year 2026.
“It was truly incredible,” he said.
The competition saw ten finalists aged 16 and underperform three challenges: a two-minute drum solo, playing along to a backing track they had prepared for a month, and performing with a live band to a piece they had heard only three times earlier that day.
The judging panel included renowned session drummer Ash Soan, who has played with artists such as Taylor Swift, Rod Stewart, Tori Amos and Snow Patrol, alongside Ben Thomas, Rob Rolfe, and former winner JJ Wallace.
Ellis believes his jazz background helped him stand out.
“Over the years my main focus has been jazz so bringing that style and rhythm up to the stage, they found really interesting,” he said.
After competing last year without winning, Ellis returned determined to improve.
“This year I felt more prepared, and when I performed my solo, I felt calm and focused. Winning was a huge honor and something I’m very grateful for.”
Music has been part of Ellis’s life since he was very young. His grandmother bought him a toy drum kit from Early Learning Centre, and by the age of two he was trying to beatbox along to The Chain by Fleetwood Mac.
His mother, Grace, said she recognized his talent early.
“When he was a baby he used to shake his whole body to drum beats,” she said. “He’s got to be a drummer.”
Ellis now studies at the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy while attending Trinity School. His dream is to one day study music in New York and immerse himself in the city’s famous jazz scene.
“I feel very fortunate to have found something I love so much at a young age,” he said. “I just want to keep learning, improving, and making the most of every opportunity that comes my way.”
