2011 V-Drums World Championship: U.S. National Finals

Minnesota’s JP Bouvet Named U.S. Champion

V-Drums Contest (Photo)

On an August night in Las Vegas, with the temperature well into triple digits, you might wonder how things could possibly get any hotter. Yet inside Sam Ash Music, the excitement of incredible drum performances and the cheering of hundreds of eager fans made the evening sizzle with even more intensity. At the second annual V-Drums National Championship, eight of the nation’s top drummers sweated it out in fiery, head-to-head competition, with one surviving to take away honors as the U.S. Champion for 2011.

Co-sponsored by DRUM! magazine, Drum Workshop, REMO, and Vic Firth, the 2011 V-Drums National Championship Finals was the culmination of nearly four months of exciting drumming competitions. The yearly contest gives drummers a unique opportunity to explore the flexibility and creative options of electronic percussion by competing for Roland percussion products and other prizes. During a six-week online entry process that began in May, over 200 drummers were selected to compete at preliminary events in front of enthusiastic audiences nationwide. At those competitions, judges chose over 30 contestants to advance to eight regional events in July, with the winners of each moving on to the U.S. National Championship.

Sam Ash Las Vegas hosted the finals on August 25, 2011, where the eight finalists gave original drum performances using the TD-20SX V-Pro Series V-Drums and OCTAPAD SPD-30 Percussion Pad. The evening’s big winner was JP Bouvet from Lakeville, Minnesota, whose spirited presentation blended orchestral, contemporary fusion, and Latin elements and incorporated a wide variety of sounds, loops, and textures. For his victory, JP won a TD-20SX V-Drums kit with a set of REMO custom shell wraps, a PM-30 Personal Monitor Amplifier, a complete set of DW hardware, dozens of JP Bouvet signature sticks from Vic Firth, and a year’s subscription to DRUM! magazine. He will also go on to represent the United States at the first-ever V-Drums World Championship in January 2012, which will be held at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California, during the Winter NAMM Show.

JP, a repeat finalist from the 2010 contest, was ecstatic over winning the crown in 2011. “All those hours totally paid off,” he said enthusiastically, referring to the rigorous practice routine that laid the groundwork for taking the top prize. When asked how it felt to win the National Championship, he said, “It feels fantastic. I want to win the world competition!”

V-Drums Contest (Photo)

Pat Adams of Kansas City, Missouri, was the runner up, displaying a command of several musical styles with a dynamic, thoughtfully constructed solo. The other skilled competitors included Marvan Alexander from Houston, Texas; Josh Davidson from Tampa, Florida; Clifford Jackson Jr. from Memphis, Tennessee; D’Anna Kennedy from Cincinnati, Ohio; Brannon Nelson from Columbia, South Carolina; and Charles Williams from Moreno Valley, California.

On the Sam Ash Las Vegas stage, which was enhanced with dramatic lighting, video, and an impressive audio system, the contestants performed in front of a standing-room-only audience of over 400. Pre-show events included audience competitions on V-Drums (using both V-Drums Friend Jam and Rock Band) for fun and prizes.

Recycled Percussion opened the show with a high-energy, eclectic blend of electronic percussion, power tools, and ladders that brought the capacity crowd to their feet. Chad Wackerman, a veteran drummer who’s played with Frank Zappa and Allan Holdsworth and currently tours with James Taylor, followed with a performance that combined his technical prowess and compositional skills with V-Drums technology. After the eight contestants performed, Tony Royster, Jr. played an entertaining set of jazz-fusion with his band that showcased his formidable drum set ability.

V-Drums Contest (Photo)

The five all-star judges assembled for the evening included noted rock drummer John Tempesta; internationally renowned drummer and V-Drums artist Thomas Lang; veteran TV, recording, and touring drummer Nate Morton; GRAMMY®-winning drummer and producer Tony Braunagel; and featured performer Chad Wackerman.

“This year’s Roland V-Drums Contest was the best ever, and the playing level of the contestants and use of V-Drums technology was excellent,” said Roland Percussion Product Manager Tim Root, who also served as the evening’s emcee. “I feel the V-Drums National Championship sets the standard for future drum competitions. The V-Drums World Championship in 2012 is going to be crazy! Go USA!”

For photos, videos, and further information on the Roland V-Drums Contest, please visit www.RolandUS.com/VDrumsContest.