Red Ambassadors
THE RED CYMBALS’ MENTORING PROGRAM DEVELOPING / ENCOURAGING EMERGING ARTISTS
(UP TO 18 YEARS OF AGE) PROMOTING DRUMMING AND POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH
WHAT IS THE RED AMBASSADOR PROGRAM?
The Red Ambassador Program is a Red Cymbals initiative to work with young drummers up to 18 year of age* who want to be a part of the Red Family. We get a get a lot of requests for ‘sponsorship’ but believe it would be massively irresponsible to give away free stuff because it would not teach younger drummers to work hard what they want to achieve.
Therefore, we have set up the Red Ambassador Program to help young drummers achieve what they want to as a person and drummer. A Red Ambassador is someone who is keen to promote drumming and positive mental health as well as to be mentored and encouraged by the Red Cymbals family to be the best person and drummer that they can be.
We will:
- Share our knowledge with you.
- Mentor you in growing your gifting as a drummer.
- Coach you in making quality content to increase your online (and real life) profile/presence.
- Promote you as a Red Ambassador on our website and social media.
- Give you exclusive discount offers on Red Cymbals, apparel and other Red Cymbals gear.
- Help you get the cymbals and gear that will suit your needs
- and so much more…
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A RED AMBASSADOR?
Sounds like something you are interested in?
Then have a chat with your *parent/s or guardian (if Under 16) and then see below:
*Parent/guardian permission required for people under 16 years of age.
Email us at info@redcymbals.com and tell us:
- Your Story (more than 150 words please) - how did you get into drumming, what inspired you, who have you learnt from: why do you want to be a drummer?
- Your Social Media Links: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok etc...
- Your Vision for drumming: what do you want to do in the future as a drummer?Where/with who do you want to play? If you could play in any band which one would it be?
Your date of birth
Location (Country you live in).
The best way to contact you. Email / Phone etc...
MEET OUR RED AMBASSADORS!
LAYLA GUNSSER - AUSTRALIA
In addition to her involvement at church, Layla runs her own drum tuition business, sharing her skills and knowledge with aspiring drummers. She takes pride in helping others discover the joy of drumming. She also runs an Instagram account, where she posts videos of her drumming performances, tutorials, and worship sessions. Through her account, Layla has been able to connect with other musicians and inspire followers with her creativity, faith, and dedication.
Balancing her love for music, her business, and her commitment to worship, Layla continues to grow both as a musician and as a leader in her community, always drumming with purpose and passion.
MIA MALLARI - UNITED KINGDOM
OBED EPHRAIM - SOUTH AFRICA
Obed Ephraim is a highly accomplished young drummer and musician from Durban, South Africa. His drumming journey began at the age of three, when he was spotted by Red Artist Gareth Gale, and he has since developed into one of the most talented and respected young percussionists in South Africa. Known for his exceptional natural skill and feel, passion for music, and commitment to excellence, Obed has garnered numerous accolades and opportunities that reflect his dedication to his craft.
By the age of 7, he had already achieved a Distinction in Trinity College's Grade 1 Drumkit Exams, an early sign of his musical promise. His dedication continued to shine through as he progressed to become a prominent member of various musical ensembles, bands and drumlines, including being part of the Crawford College Senior Drumline that won several prestigious titles, including the inaugural KZN High Schools Drumline Competition where he played the lead snare.
On the international stage, in 2021 he placed third in the Drum Off Global adjudicated by Chris Coleman and Anika Niles among others.
Throughout his school years, Obed’s reputation grew as a highly versatile and accomplished drummer. By the time he was 9 years old, he had already won the inaugural SASMT KZN Drumkit Player of the Year (Junior) and placed second in the Senior/Open category. His high-profile performances included playing for the Sharks vs Lions URC Rugby Halftime Concert, The Black Lapels Johnny Cash Tribute, Elvis Tribute at The Pumpkin Theatre, and the highly acclaimed and distinguished Karen Devroop Jazz Quartet. Obed’s exceptional skills earned him a place in the South African National Schools Jazz Band in 2023 ahead of hundreds of young drummers across SA, culminating in showcasing his talent to the country’s leading jazz acts at the National Arts Festival.
Obed’s journey in the music world is marked by a series of major milestones. In 2024, he was selected to open for the prestigious NYO Carnegie Hall Youth Jazz Orchestra as part of the Shine Jazz Project at The Playhouse, a landmark achievement in his young career. He was a featured drummer at the Annual Durban Drum Day in 2023 and 2024, further solidifying his position as one of the top young drummers in South Africa.
Notably, Obed’s accomplishments extend beyond exams and competitions. He was awarded Honours for Music at his school and has been invited to perform at numerous prestigious events, such as the Hilton Arts Festival and various high-profile concerts. In 2020, he achieved 2nd place in the StarzAtHome online talent competition, which led to his invitation to perform at the National Arts Festival VFringe. His unique style and musical expression have made him a sought-after young performer and collaborator.
In addition to his competitive and performance successes, Obed has received industry recognition. At just 10 years old, he was recognised by Donovan Rasch, and began his sponsorship with Musicians Gearzone, the South African agent for Pearl Drums. This collaboration with a major global drum brand highlights Obed’s growing presence in the music industry.
Throughout his career, Obed has consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to blend technical mastery with creativity, whether performing as a solo artist or in ensemble settings. His diverse musical experiences, ranging from worship in the various church bands, jazz, rock and fusion music, have shaped him into a well-rounded and relatable young musician.
Beyond school, Obed has his sights set on a career in Music Production and Performance. Obed’s future in music looks incredibly promising. With his talent, work ethic, and dedication to his craft, he continues to inspire other young drummers around him, and make a significant impact on his music community. His journey as a young drummer is one to watch, as he continues to break boundaries and achieve new heights in his musical career.
Instagram: @obed_drumss
Meet Muhammad Itab Purnama, know as "Itab" a drummer from
Jakarta, Indonesia and his incredible 2 year journey of drumming achievements!
Itab first became interested in drumming when he watched his nephews compete in a drumming competition called the HAMMER DRUM COMPETITION. This event is one of the biggest drum competitions in Indonesia.
They only qualified top 5 for grandfinalist from each 8 cities in
Indonesia. From there, he just started learning to play drums by himself, without any training from teachers or music schools.
In June, 2023, he auditioned for HAMMER DRUM COMPETITION in Bandung, Indonesia and managed to rank in the TOP 5 as a junior category grand finalist with the 1st position and entered the TOP 15 in the grand final of
total 40 grand finalists from 8 cities in Indonesia. A great first achievement for
him.
From there, his parents started enrolling him in a drum course called Beat'n'Pitch
with the RSL curriculum. His achievements were even more brilliant, in February, 2024, he participated in a national drum competition called ABSOLUTE DRUM FESTIVAL and won 2nd place at the junior drummer category!
Not just there, he was still trying to find more experience by re-auditioning for HAMMER DRUM COMPETITION 2024 in two cities. The first city was in Bandung,
Indonesia and again made it through the TOP 5 as a grand finalist in the Men's Open category winning 1st place. The second city in Jakarta, Indonesia he also made it back to the TOP 5 as a grand finalist in a different category, the Advanced category with 2nd place! And in this year's grand final he managed to improve his achievement by making it to the TOP 10 out of 40 grandfinalists in both categories! He is truly an amazingly talented drummer, considering he has just only been playing drums for 2 years.
Itab's latest achievement is winning 3rd place in teenage drummer category at the prestigious drum competition in Indonesia: IDP FEST 2024 (INDONESIA DRUM & PERCUSSION FESTIVAL 2024. He's on fire! Thanks to Itab's parents who fully support his musical talent and passion.
Please show some support for Itab by following and sharing his social media,
- IG: @itab_rnm
- YOUTUBE : ITAB RNM
LAVENDER KILLEY - WALES
AUSTIN LOWE - UNITED KINGDOM
Austin Lowe is a 15 year old drummer from Chester. He first picked up the sticks just before the pandemic and hasn’t put them down since. Starting with Queen’s ‘we will rock you’, he quickly evolved to Van Halen and Pearl Jam and now plays a mixture of Slipknot, Tool and System of a Down, amongst others.
At school he enjoys music and media and he hopes to go on to study a music performance Btec. He is currently working towards his grade 7 rock and pop in drums. He has recently started a band called Anomaly and plays in his school’s concerts. Austin wants music to be his career, he lives and breathes it and plays drums every day. His inspirations are Tre Cool, Dave Grohl, John Dolmayan, Roger Taylor, Taylor Hawkins, Joey Jordison, El Estepario Sibariano and Chad Smith.
In 2024, Austin attended the UK Drum show where he had his first taste of playing Red Cymbals on their stand. The sound they produced blew him away and he knew that he had to start a new collection to go with his Premier drum kit.
RYAN KOO - MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA
THOMAS CRESCITELLI
ADELAIDE SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Thomas is a 13-year-old accomplished drummer who plays with maturity and poise. He has been attending drum lessons since the age of 7 where he continues to develop his theory, technique, and groove and recently completed his Grade 5 Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB) Rock School Drum Exam,
In 2021, Thomas entered the Drum-Off Global Annual International drum competition and submitted a 4-minute drum solo video, winning the Australian junior category. This propelled him onto the international stage where he was assessed against eleven other countries by a panel of world-renowned drummers.
He has performed and recorded with accomplished musicians and for a period of 12 months, played in a 60s / 70s cover band with adults. Thomas enjoys playing funk, fusion, indie, pop, blues, soul, classic rock and progressive rock.
Thomas can be seen “busking” in the Adelaide Rundle Mall from time to time and many examples of him playing and performing can be found on INSTAGRAM so check out his Instagram and give him a follow!
ISAIAH BEDWARD-HAMILTON - CANADA
Isaiah Bedward-Hamilton is a drummer from Vaughan, Canada, who started playing drums at the early age of 1. During his early years he would make various rhythms with pens and pencils. As Isaiah grew, he was very curious about drums and really wanted to explore everything about the drums. Because of Isaiah’s God-given talent and love for the instrument, his mother decided to enrol him in drum lessons at the age of 3 ½ with Drummers Choice Music School in Brampton, Ontario. As Isaiah developed his skills, his parents explored other drum schools in the Greater Toronto Area to enhance his drumming ability. He attended Long and McQuade Music School from ages 5 to 7, Drumland Music School from ages 7 to 9, and Zamar Music Academy starting at ages 9 to 13. He also attends private drum lessons with artist Tré Taylor to present.
At 4 years old Isaiah performed at his first drum recital where he played Billie Jean by Michael Jackson. By the age of 6, Isaiah started playing for his local church - Covenant of Promise, Church of God Sabbath Keeping Ministries and now with Vivid Church Toronto.
Playing different genres of music such as Jazz, Reggae, R&B, Rock, etc., inspires Isaiah to play drums because of his love for music and drive to perform optimally. As he gets older, he has begun to see the drums' uniqueness and he learned from special Mentors namely: Frampton Lloyd (Grandfather), his uncle Darren Hamilton, Marcus Walker, David Bradshaw, O’Brian Nicholas, Corey Butler, Kairon Haynes, Jay Laws, Tré Taylor, Chris Blair, Larnell Lewis, and many more. They showed him various techniques on how to be professional, tell a story and be prepared for every drumming event.
In the summer of 2022, Isaiah had the privilege of registering with the School of Rock Camp in Vaughan, Ontario. He had the opportunity to learn new music techniques and create a music video with other talented musicians by the end of the camp. This was displayed on YouTube for all to view. In the Fall of the same year, Isaiah joined Larnell Lewis and Joy Lapps-Lewis for the Flow Fest – Brampton’s International Drumming Festival at the Rose Theater where he played a percussion piece with a selected professional band of all ages. During the summer of 2023, Isaiah was given the opportunity to play with a selected band at the annual Church of God Sabbath-Keeping Ministries Convention. This was an unforgettable experience.
Isaiah enjoys learning, listening, and working hard to ensure that all drumming pieces are done in excellence and professionally. Isaiah’s goals are to attain a music and basketball scholarship, to attend his dream music and sports school, where he will be able to attain a degree in Music and Kinesiology to teach others music as well as play sports. Eventually he would like to become a world renowned drummer, travel the world, produce music albums with well known musicians and artists, and spread the good news of the Gospel.
You can follow Isaiah on:
Instagram: @isaiahbedwardhamilton
Facebook: Isaiah Bedward
YouTube: Isaiah Bedward-Hamilton Music
TOMMY KAYE - WALES
Tommy started drumming initially progressing via online zoom lessons with his tutor Jon Harvey working through 5 Rock School grades. Every time he hits the drums he loved every second of it and was left wanting to play even more.
Most of the time whilst Tommy is on the kit he’s just jamming to his preferred artists such as Loyle Carner, Interpol & Reprazent and Roni size, but this changes regularly as he has a really wide appreciation of music.
Tommy loves a mix of different genres including Drum and Bass, Hip Hop , House/electro, Post Punk & Rock. Tommy is the drummer in a local band named “Good Call” which play covers of classic crowd favourite rock tracks, he also plays drums in the school band & Jazz club too.
At the moment Tommy is playing an old Pearl Export setup that he fully restored after finding it in quite poor condition at a car boot sale and also a 2box Drumit E-kit.
Check out Tommy's Instagram and give him a follow!
OSCAR ERHARDT - MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA
Oscar Erhardt is a technical 13-year-old drummer who hails from Melbourne.
His passion for drumming became evident at a young age. At the age of two, everything changed when he stumbled across a drum kit at a flea market.
Oscar is currently pursuing his secondary education at RIA where he is involved in several bands.
He has had many drum mentors that have guided him over his journey including Nicky Bomba who is the drummer for the John Butler Trio.
Oscar shines on stage and relishes any opportunity to perform live.
When it comes to drumming influences Oscar is inspired by the work of Dan Kerby and G Flip.
Oscar has a keen interest in funk and soul drumming, and this influences his style of flowing chops and tasty beats.
His ultimate dream is to play a stadium gig and his purpose in drumming is to spread joy and positive energy to others.
Follow Oscar on Instagram @thedrumingkid
VANN LITTLE - AUSTRALIA
Introducing Vann, a drummer with a passion for rhythm that runs deep. From a tender age of 2, he was handed a junior Sonic Drive drum kit, aptly named “Bam Bam,” igniting his lifelong love affair with drumming.
Vann’s journey took a significant turn in year 6 when he joined the primary school rock band, marking the beginning of his musical adventure. In the following year, Vann was fortunate to cross paths with mentor Brett Newman, who laid the sturdy foundation for Vann’s aspiring drumming career.
The years 2021, 2022, and 2023 brought exceptional opportunities as Vann earned a coveted spot as a drummer in the Eumundi School of Rock program, an initiative led by the renowned Australian Artist, Katie Noonan.
In 2022, Vann decided to take things to the next level by forming a band, the “Psycho Seagulls,” alongside his younger brother and two schoolmates. Together, they embarked on a musical journey, performing a diverse repertoire of covers and crafting two original songs. Their collective efforts reached a crescendo when they clinched the title of Australia’s Best Junior Rock Band in the National Rock Fest competition, a well-deserved recognition.
Vann’s love for the drums knows no bounds. He recently found himself in the heart of a Sunshine Coast-based Punk Band called “Acended,” who hold ambitious dreams of touring the world. The band began recording and laying tracks for their first EP in early October 2023. Vann’s drumming style is a rich tapestry woven from influences and inspiration drawn from legendary drummers like Mikey Richards (Violent Soho), Ben Gordon (Parkway Drive), Chris Adler (Lamb of God), and David Silveria (Korn).
To top it off, Vann is thrilled to be a part of the Red Ambassador Family, further solidifying his commitment to the world of percussion. His journey in the world of drumming is just getting started, and the rhythm of his life continues to beat strong.
Follow Vann and his band ac.ended on Instagram
MEMPHUS BECKWORTH - VICTORIA
Memphus started his drumming journey March 2021 after attending youth group and watching the band play. His drumming journey has been a lot of practice, hard work and money. Throughout his three years of drumming he has always wanted to start drumming at church and youth group. In 2022 he joined his middle school chapel band and started playing in front of the school every Monday for about a year until he joined senior school chapel. Middle of 2023 Memphus participated in Rock Academy 32, which broadened his music horizons and brought him to our brand. After Memphus participated in Rock Academy 33 which accelerated his drumming to another level. Towards the end of 2023 Memphus started just playing praise at youth because his knowledge of band dynamics and experience with other musicians weren’t very high. Recently starting term one of his school and youth and had played nearly every week for the full set list of song, because he now have the knowledge of worship drums and how to work in a band and worship team.
Memphus is hoping to take his drumming to church by the end of this year, so he would be playing both Youth and Church. Recently the main drummer at a large church reached out and asked if he could use Memphus’s Red Cymbals at a large church event because he loved them so much, since then he has been saying how great they are for worship.
Check out Memphus on INSTAGRAM
RAPH ARRIETA - WESTERN AUSTRALIA
ZEKE CARLE - COFFS HARBOUR AUSTRALIA
Zeke's passion for drumming ignited at the age of 2, and he acquired his first junior DXP kit at the age of 3. Displaying an innate talent and unwavering dedication, he swiftly progressed to a Pearl Vision 6-piece kit by the age of 5, all through self-guided learning. His talent caught the attention of the conservatorium of music. At 13 years old, Zeke serves almost every week as one of the backbone drummers for Lifehouse Church and Youth Worship in the vibrant city of Coffs Harbour in New South Wales Australia.
To enhance the musical experience, the church employs cutting-edge technology, utilizing in-ear monitors, click tracks, and computer-based multi-tracks when necessary. Moreover, Zeke had the privilege of playing for the Youth Alive NSW Band, where he showcased his remarkable talent in Sydney, contributing to the unforgettable opener, "All of Us." Zeke has a strong passion for God, and his worship is characterized by profound sensitivity and a deep connection to the Holy Spirit. He finds inspiration in renowned Planetshaker drummers Mike Webber and Andy Harrison. In addition to worship music, Zeke greatly admires drumming virtuoso Travis Barker, drawn to his remarkable speed and mind-bending fills.
Zeke's ultimate dream is to relocate to Melbourne, where he aspires to join the ranks of Planetshakers, leading thousands of people in heartfelt worship. Alongside this dream, he remains deeply committed to supporting his local church as an integral member of the drumming team, as drumming is the very essence of his being. Zeke devotes at least two hours every day to honing his craft in our music room, a testament to his unwavering dedication.
Currently, Zeke has a new Pearl Reference kit and a Gretsch Custom USA Bronze 14x6.5 snare. Zeke is playing Red Cymbals Vertical Raw Series: 24" Ride, 22" Crash, 21" fx Crash, 16" Hi-hats plus a 888 Stack.
CALEB SENKINDI - AUSTRALIA
Caleb is a worship drummer who enjoys sitting on the side of the church where the drums are so he can see what the drummer is doing. His inspiration came at a young age from other drummers playing to worship songs in church. Whenever he had the opportunity to learn something new, he took it and was very appreciative of it.
He didn’t acquire a drum kit of his own until he was 13 years old but before then at school, he would practise his songs at lunch time in the school music room so he could not only impress his teachers but also his worship leader so he could play the drums for his church. He was recently accepted to play drums at his local youth in Coffs Harbour and he will also be playing drums at his school for an event that takes places every Friday called ‘ChurchTime’ where the entire school comes together, and they worship and praise the lord and there is also preachers who preach there.
Caleb was born in Coffs Harbour, Australia and currently lives there. Due to living in close quarters to other houses he can’t play as loud or as much as he would enjoy to, but he’ll take whatever he gets when the chance comes. Caleb hasn’t had a drumming teacher before other than his school teacher but he’s eager to learn from anyone. Caleb has always been inspired by surrounding drummers and he likes stealing their techniques and drum fills off of them. One of Caleb’s Favorite Worship Drummers/Drum Teacher is called Timothy Cincalla and he’s learnt most songs from his YouTube channel and his drum covers. Caleb recently made an Instagram account called sevenrhythmicsounds, which was made solely for his drumming videos go check it out!!
RYAN MCKNIGHT - UTAH USA
Ryan is a multi instrumentalist from Provo, Utah. He started on tuba in 7th grade but picked up drums in during 2020 in the COVID-19 lockdown. He is has had no personal lessons but has learned through YouTube, being put in his high school's jazz band, and just giving drumming a go. He believes genres should be able to mix when done right and has worked hard to learn many styles, including metal, jazz, latin and trap, and try to incorporate them into songs. He only recently started gigging but has already fallen in love with the feeling of going on stage and surprisingly loves the feeling of tearing down the kit and the hours of last minute practice before a show. Ryan's biggest influences are Slipknot, Rammstein, Riot Jazz, Slaughter To Prevail, and Zack Graybeal (ZackGrooves). He is so excited to be part of the Red Ambassador family and teach people that they should give things a go - it's an opportunity to get better, and always love what you do.
JEDIDIAH HAINS
Jed is a drummer from Adelaide, South Australia. He has been playing drums for 11 years now and has also played in many different bands as well as musicals and musical showcases. His key influences that have kept him going has to be his first drum teacher Monica Lashes from the Australian band The Babes. Monica has the world record for drumming continuously for 24 hours. When she did this it really inspired Jed to not give up when he is struggling with drumming, and she has been a big part of his journey. As well as drums Jed also plays guitar and bass, but drums is by far the favourite.
LAZER ORMSBY - USA
Lazer is a 15 year old drummer from Salt Lake City, Utah. She started drumming last year during the pandemic and immediately fell in love with it. She is completely self taught and practices everyday for at least 4 hours and she's always learning new songs. Even though shes only been playing for a short period of time, she's managed to land gigs at local venues in her city. Performing is her favorite thing to do and her dream is to tour the world. Her main influences are Paramore, Metallica, Blink-182, and Machine Gun Kelly, and she really looks up to Travis Barker. She's really excited to be working with Red and show the world her passion for music!
Follow Lazer on: INSTAGRAM and TIK TOK
KEZIAH HENDRY
Keziah is a drummer from Melbourne in Australia. Keziah has been drumming since he was just a toddler, and he has grown into a very mature player, over many genres, both as a soloist and with his band Upsurge and as a part of Rock Academy Australia. Keziah says he has loved music his whole life and he enjoys it so much that he has to play every day. He believes that music and drums are the best way for helping with life and his positive mental health and he would like to spread mental health awareness with his music and help people develop positivity. He hopes that music will stay with him forever. Keziah’s dream is play professionally and to keep developing and learn new things every day about how to live life to the fullest through music.
LUKE NAIRN - CANADA
Luke, a metal drummer from Canada’s east coast, started playing drums in late 2016 as a self-taught drummer, before taking private lessons for over 2 years. also taking part in church ensembles. Luke has landed himself a gig in the metal band known as Vital Oath where he adopted the stage name Oath Writer.
His biggest influences are Tom Hunting, In
Check out Luke's Instagram
LACHLAN FORDE
PERTH WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Lachlan is a 17 year old ATAR music student who has played music all throughout his life. When he was 8 he tried his cousins drum set for the first time and instantly fell in love with drums. He missed out on drum lessons in primary school because it was the popular instrument. In Year 7 music, Lachlan immediately turned his attention to the drums and would spend most of his lunches in a practice room working on his technique and improving his overall ability on the kit. Lachlan was picked to be the drummer for his first live performance in a year 8 contemporary music showcase. Over the years Lachlan remained self taught and was the drummer for his band in countless musical showcases and performances.
Lachlan is currently a year 12 student studying ATAR contemporary drum kit. His drum teacher John Trotter is a world renowned drummer from Newcastle upon Tyne. Lachlan has played in countless venues across Perth over the last 4 years. He is extremely excited to be working with Red Cymbals and supporting everything they stand for. Lachlan has always been passionate about his music and drums allows him that extra little bit of expression. Anytime Lachlan sits on the drums, he plays something new. Lachlan wants to share his passion and love for music and wants to work with and get to know other drummers throughout the drumming world.
Check out Lachlan’s Instagram for more.