Home » Blog » Conservatory Alumnus Wins Drum Mastery Contest

Conservatory Alumnus Wins Drum Mastery Contest

Daniel 'D.K.' Kelly ’18 snags trip to London, thousands of dollars worth of gear and more in Shure competition

When Daniel “D.K.” Kelly II ’18 began his studies at Shenandoah Conservatory, he arrived as a musician steeped in gospel and marching band traditions. But after four years in the jazz studies program, the drummer emerged as a musician who, just a year after graduation, has been selected as the grand prize winner in the Shure Drum Mastery Contest

Kelly’s entry in the international audio products company’s contest bested 1,000 entries from 38 countries. As the grand prize winner, he was awarded a trip to London, a two-day masterclass at Metropolis Studios with Ash Soan and $5,000 worth of Shure gear. The jury consisted of professional drummers from around the world including Soan, Taylor Gordon, Tobias Derer, Takashi Kashikura and Shiguang Cui.

Contestants submitted a video in which they played without accompaniment. “Daniel’s creative approach and colorful rhythmic styles won over the jury. His playing styles include Gospel, Jazz, R&B, Rock, Latin, and even Classical,” states the Shure press release about Kelly’s win

Check out his winning submission: 

Kelly, who is originally from Hampton, Virginia, but now calls Winchester, Virginia, home, said he plans to travel to London in early-to-mid October, instead of September as originally planned, because he’s playing two shows, “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and “Boynton Beach Club,” at the Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven, New Jersey, that month. 

Kelly said he entered the contest on a whim, having only previously entered one other similar contest – a Guitar Center one – as an 11th grader back in 2011, and didn’t make it past the store round. This time out, he was excited to learn he was the contest’s U.S. winner, and when he received the email about winning the grand prize, he said he screamed, then yelled, “Oh my gosh! What in the world? I’m going to London!” 

He recorded his winning video at Shenandoah, which is where he developed the chops he displayed. Adjunct Associate Professor of Jazz Percussion Alphonso Young Jr., M.M., has served as his mentor, Kelly said. When Kelly was a student, Young took him under his wing, and exposed him to different genres, styles and techniques. Kelly said Young still shows him musical ideas that blow his mind. “I learned a lot from him.” 

As a Shenandoah jazz student, he also learned “how to listen more to the band,” and be a cohesive part of a musical whole. No one wants to play with a showboater, he noted. 

Since graduating, Kelly has often worked as an integral part of a team, serving as musical director for the production of “Revival: The Resurrection of Son House” at the Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, New York. He began his tenure with the show as a drummer, and later moved into the music director position, using conducting skills he learned from Professor of Voice, Choral Conducting and Choral Music Karen Keating, D.M.A. He’s currently engaged in writing sheet music for the show’s performers for any future productions of the show, which originally focused on music of the blues player Son House, who didn’t notate his music. 

His summer also includes serving as drum staff for the National Jazz Workshop at Shenandoah as well as time playing in the orchestra pit for the Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre productions “Ragtime!” and “Young Frankenstein,” and being percussion coordinator for two area high schools – one in Fauquier County, Virginia, and one in Loudoun County, Virginia. 

And, he’s planning and creating his online show, “The Drum Orpheum,” where he’ll use the Shure video kit he won through the Drum Mastery Contest to film interviews with fellow drummers and musicians. He expects the first episode to drop this fall. His contest win, he said, has put some additional fire into him, and he anticipates it’ll draw more attention to him as a musician, so he needs to keep the momentum going. “I cannot slack off now,” he said. “I cannot stop now.” 

But even as he’s in the midst of a young career with plenty of activity, he doesn’t see himself as an expert. Instead, he calls himself a “tadpole” in the drumming world. 

Categories: , , ,

Recent News

Headshots of Dr. Yunita Anwar (left) and Dr. John Winn (right), both of the Shenandoah University School of Business

WalletHub Taps Two SU Professors for Insight and Advice

Drs. Winn and Anwar Talk Insurance and Improving Credit

Shenandoah Pharmacy Graduates Secure Competitive PGY2 Residency Matches

Four pharmacy graduates advance into competitive PGY2 residencies in pediatric, psychiatric pharmacy, oncology, and investigational drugs and research

Professor explains content on a screen in a Shenandoah University educational leadership doctoral class.

New Higher Ed Concentration Offered in Shenandoah University’s Educational Leadership Doctoral Programs

Course topics delve into the primary responsibilities of higher education leaders

Headshot of J. Robert "Bobby" Spencer

Shenandoah University To Hold Special Performance To Benefit SSMT Living Legacy Endowment Fund

Original ‘Jersey Boy’ J. Robert Spencer headlines ensemble cast of Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre alumni

Shenandoah OT Programs Recognize Students & Educators of Distinction

2024-25 Awardees Hail From Four Occupational Therapy Programs

Students walk on campus with Sarah's Glen in the background.

Shenandoah University Participating In 2025 Virginia Private College Week

Prospective students who visit from July 21-26 will be entered to win an Amazon gift card and are eligible for an application fee waiver

Monthly Archives