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Richard Rayner
At the age 14, Richard sits behind
the kit a little bolder in his personal appearance
than last year with the distinctive Mohican hair.
Richard qualified as a finalist for the 2008 event
and his performance was a marked improvement in each
aspect - context, precision, control and
personality. His dynamic approach to his solo made a
definite impression on his solo presentation,
controlling the texture and intensity of his content
made it conversational. His interpretation of his
set piece was driven by a smooth and even sense of
musicality with a conscious effort to deliver the
piece as a band – certainly an impressive execution.
His improvised set-piece required spontaneity and to
listen intently whilst holding down the groove only
added to his impressive performance. To hold this
together at such a tender age is simply remarkable
The stage was cleared and prepared
for the all important announcement - Paul Davis from
Telford Culture Zone announced the results and an
elated and surprised Richard Rayner emerged as the
winner of ‘Young Drummer of the Year’ 2009. Elated
and visually surprised he stepped up to collect his
award to rapturous applause.
To get an insight to their decision,
the judges were asked for their final conclusions:
"Given that all the guys could
solo well, otherwise they wouldn’t have made it into
the final, Richard was more prepared than the
others. He had worked hard on the compulsory pieces
and only he, and one other, had taken the time to
sketch out a part for the second piece which they
had only been presented with that morning. He made
eye contact with the musicians he was playing with
and was able to feed from them. And he made it
blindingly obvious to the audience he was having a
good time. Job done!! The key element was:
PREPARATION" – Bob Henrit (Musician and Music
Critic)
"I
was impressed with Richard''s overall approach to
the drums and, more importantly, the music. Richard
was listening intently to the other musicians and
was blending with them beautifully. He was hitting
like a mature player, giving the correct weight and
feel to the backbeats which made him sound like a
seasoned drummer. His time, feel, groove, fills,
balance and overall sound were without a doubt very
high quality. His ability to strike the instrument
with authority and ability to play the memorised
tune accurately were also main factors that made him
the best drummer of the day." – Ralph Salmins
(Session Great – Robbie Williams/Van Morrison)
"Ultimately, the key to being a
great drummer lies in the responsibility of being a
good musician. Out of the 10 finalists, Richard
emerged as a sensitive musician who paid attention
to feel and playing for the music. As a soloist, he
had flare and showed confidence without any sign of
arrogance. All the finalists show amazing potential
if they persist and keep the zeal which they ALL
share. I really enjoyed the day, so thanks to
everyone!" – Troy Miller (Session Great – Amy
Winehouse/Mark Ronson)
"For me, what made him stand out
from the crowd was his attitude, and his all round
ability and proficiency. There were other guys there
that were better than him in certain areas, but he
was an all rounder with a great head on his
shoulders that will see him go far, as long as he
keeps that level headed attitude." – Omar Abidi (Fightstar)
"I thought the overall standard
was very good and I particularly enjoyed the
different stylistic approaches to the song the guys
got in advance. For me it was very close between 2
drummers and Richard just edged it overall. My main
criteria were feel, pocket, musicianship and
communication. Richard showed deep pockets,
excellent dynamic & stick control, great
communication both with the audience and band
members and it ''felt'' great. He looked like he was
enjoying it too!" – Bob Knight (Musical Director –
Charlotte Church)
"Richard had all the elements of a
great musician. He had an amazing groove, feel and
sense of time and his energy was unbelievable! He
communicated with the other two musicians on stage,
led them and even made them up their game! Richard
has a very bright future ahead of him & I wish him
the best of luck!" – Cherisse Osei (Mika)
"There was no question that
Richard along with the other finalists had the
playing ability to stand on the stage as a potential
winner of The Young Drummer of the Year 2009. He did
however have an equally striking personality which
certainly grabbed everyone’s attention both on stage
and during the interview process. His feel and
dynamics during his solo and the tracks with the
musicians were evident throughout his performance
and it is clear that on this, his 3rd time as a
finalist, he has the determination and dedication
needed for a career in the music industry." – Ade
Holbrooke (Musical Motivator)
I approached Richard Rayner after the
event to throw him a few questions about holding
this year’s winning torch.
What''s it like to win Young ‘Drummer
of the Year’?
It’s been hectic - was up at 2.30
yesterday to go on BBC news. Absolutely loving it!
Winning YDOTY is the total sum of all the practice
and work that I have put in . I am really thankful
for the help and support that has been given to me
by Mike, Gerry and all the team and judges. All the
comments and messages that I have received since
winning have been fantastic. I am really excited
about the year ahead.
This is your 2nd attempt - what did
you learn from the competition the first time round?
It’s actually my 3rd attempt at YDOTY
this year. When Mike and Gerry talk about every one
of the finalists being winners, it’s true. Although
I did not win the last 2 years, I came away learning
many new things from the other contestants (all of
these guys are really good) and by being involved in
such a professional environment. You really do meet
some great people. Once you have gone through it,
you really look forward to the next year.
What is your recommendation for
anyone thinking of entering the competition next
year?
My recommendation for anyone entering
the competition would be to give yourself the best
chance of selection by taking your time to submit a
good entry. If you are successful, take time to
enjoy the day and the company. Be yourself in your
playing style and play to your strengths. And
finally understand what the format of the day is
about and practice, practice, practice!
Review Report: Jerome Marcus |
