ASIAN SUPREME
DRUM COMPETITION 2022

Carl Jenkins Jr.

United States

Carl started playing drums in church at the age of 15. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance where his major instrument was percussion and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education where his minor instrument was piano. Both of these degrees are from Virginia Commonwealth University in the United States of America.

Carl has been a music educator since 1997 and has taught drum set, orchestral percussion, marching drumlines and classroom music lessons. Carl taught at the United World College of South East Asia here in Singapore for 15 years.  Carl’s students have described him as knowledgeable, passionate, energetic, caring, fun and empathetic.

Carl’s professional playing career had him playing in many different cities in the US, Europe and Asia. He toured with the Soul group the Manhattans in 1990 and during that stint he came to Singapore and performed at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. While living in Japan he toured with the famous Japanese singer and actor Monta Yoshinori. Carl could be seen playing at various clubs in Boat Quay and Clarke Quay during the mid 90s and even showcased his vocal talents as the lead singer in groups that performed at the Long Bar and a club named Papa Joe’s.

Er Chow Kiat 

Singapore

Er Chow Kiat (b. 1989) is a drummer and music educator with an entrepreneurial spirit that led him to establish Drum Tutor in March 2018, a contemporary drumming school with 3 outlets in Singapore.

Lionised among his contemporaries as one of the youngest luminaries in his field, the musical maestro has helped put Singapore on the map as an accomplished musician who has toured the world with international bigwigs like Taiwanese songstress Angela Zhang, and played with Instagram rockstar Mateus Asato at major festivals like Japan’s Fuji & Sun Festival, Taipei Jazz Festival and Java Jazz Festival.

Chow Kiat is an exemplary model of the Singapore dream, having taken the path less travelled and worked hard to make a name for himself. Despite his struggles in academics, the self-taught talent was driven by his passion for music, which he has had since the age of 9, and picked up the instrument on his own. Eventually, he graduated from LASALLE College of the Arts with a diploma in popular music, and earned a Full Ride Scholarship after emerging at the top of a global competition in 2012. The latter brought him to the world renowned Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California, USA, where he graduated with an associate degree in music and was awarded Outstanding Student Award.

Jirawat 

Thailand

Originally from Thailand, Mr. Jirawat (more affectionately known as, ‘Mr Print’) is now based in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Print is an accomplished musician and multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar and a variety of brass instruments but is most passionate about the Drum kit. Print was once the drummer of Thai superstar rock band ‘Flame’, and has toured regionally playing to concert and festival audiences. He has years of experience playing in Thailand’s live venue circuits as well as Singapore venues. Print was also part of the Yamaha teaching team during his time in Chiang Rai, Thailand. He is currently a big in-demand name in the club and professional gig performing circuit of Johor Bahru and teaches lessons to both adults and children at Demi Quaver Rock Academy.

Lee Jit Seng 

Malaysia

Lee Jit Seng is a professional musician and music educator based in Asia. He received his bachelor’s degree in music from Lasalle College of Arts in Singapore in 2009 and furthered his studies in Collective School Of Music in United States of America in 2011.

Known for his technical skills and versatility as a drummer, he was invited to play and collaborate with many artistes and involved in projects across a wide range of genres from Progressive Rock to Musical Theatre. Jit Seng was invited to perform in Singapore Formula 1 Night Race and shared the stages with many international artistes.

Jit Seng joined Singapore jazz band Raghajazz in 2009 and performed in festivals and concerts such as MOSAIC, MURfest, Singapore Rhapsodies, Asian Vibes Festivals, Singapore Night Festival… etc. In 2012, Jit Seng was invited by The Prime Minister of Singapore- Mr. Lee Hsien Long to perform at Istana. 

Jit Seng was invited to be one of the international judges for Singapore Drum Off 2017 Final international drum competition. He was also invited to judge for 2017 Singapore- Asia Youth Arts Festival Final competition. In 2017, he was invited to perform in Rockschool Concert Singapore.

Jit Seng was one of the judges in Asian Supreme Drum Competition in 2018 and 2019.

Aside of his passion in performing arts, Jit Seng dedicated himself into music education, he has over 16 years of teaching experience and taught over 800 students from different countries.

Rewat Jawad Ahmed 

Singapore

Refat Jawad Ahmed holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Media & Communications Management from the University of South Australia and a Specialist Diploma in Band Directing awarded jointly by the National Institute of Education and Nanyang Technological University Singapore.

For 23 years he has been a percussion instructor as well as a conductor in brass/military/concert/symphonic bands in Singapore primary, secondary, junior college and tertiary institutes.

Over the years he has conducted concerts and performed at the Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore Conference Hall, The Republic Cultural Centre, NUS Cultural Centre, School of the Arts, Jubilee Hall, the Esplanade, Gardens by the Bay, Esplanade Waterfront, Macritchie Reservoir and the Istana.

Vann Henryk P. Trinidad 

Philippines

Born into a family of professional musicians, Vann Henryk P. Trinidad grew up surrounded by music and talented artists. Thus, he became familiar with various musical instruments at an early age.

To realise his dreams of becoming a musician, he enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas, one of Philippines’ leading music schools, where he pursued a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education with special emphasis in percussion. 

His notable achievement was in 2018 when he was part of his university’s drumline which won a contest in Indonesia.

Being a passionate and skilled drummer, he was invited to perform with some of Philippines’ famous celebrities such as Ding Dong Avanzado, Jessa Zaragosa, Marissa Sanchez and Marion Aunor. His outstanding performances eventually opened doors for him to tour overseas.

Currently, he is a full-time music teacher teaching drum in Singapore.