Asia-Pacific Drummer Competition 2025
ELIGIBILITY and APPLICATION
The Hong Kong International Drummer Festival (HKDrumFest) - Asia Pacific Drummer Competition 2025 invites online applications from February to June. This year, the competition will feature semi-finals and finals in Hong Kong for the top 10 contestants from categories 1, 2, and 3, as well as the top 5 from categories 4 and 5, scheduled for late June. The Semi-final will take place at the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, while the Final round will be hosted at the prestigious Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall. Drummers from the Asia Pacific region are encouraged to participate in this exciting competition, which aims to bring together talented individuals from across the region, offering a platform for growth and the chance to learn from seasoned professionals while gaining valuable performance experience.
Following its inauguration from 2017, The Asia Pacific drummer Competition has not only developed into a platform for diverse drumming talents in Asia Pacific regions to show off their talents, meet drummers from all around Asia, and exchange their crafts, but has also expanded into a region celebration of cultures and music brought together by the drums and the drummers.
The Asia-Pacific Drummer Competition 2025 is divided into 5 categories:
Category 1. Hong Kong Young Drumset Category (only open to HK residents)
Young person Junior - age 12 or below (HKYJ)
Application is open to Hong Kong resident with HKID card at age 12 or below (born on or after 1 January, 2013)
Category 2. Asia Pacific Professional Drumset Category (open to all Asian Pacific Drummers)
Young Person Junior Advance - age 12 or below (APYJ) (born on or after 1 January, 2013)
Category 3. Asia Pacific Professional Drumset Category (open to all Asian Pacific Drummers)
Asia Pacific Open - No age limit (APO)
Category 4. Asia Pacific Professional Snare Category (open to all Asian Pacific Drummer)
Young Person Junior Advance - age 12 or below (APYJS) (born on or after 1 January, 2013)
Category 5. Asia Pacific Professional Snare Category (open to all Asian Pacific Drummers)
Asia Pacific Open - No age limit (APOS)
ADMISSION
Material for submission
I. Entry Form
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Entry Form should be submitted online (www.hkdrumfest.com)
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Please submit the online application, get the set piece score download link. And then send us your Own choice video and Set piece performance link on or before 1 June 2025 via support@hkdrumfest.com
II. Own Choice Video submission
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All competition entries must be accompanied by Link to an online video (either YouTube or Bilibili only) of the applicant performing a song/piece for within 5 minutes,
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Drum set Category 1, 2 and 3 on an acoustic kit, (Electronic Kits are not permitted) with no other musicians or live musical accompaniment.
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Marching Snare Category 4 and 5 on a Snare Drum with no other musicians (Electronic Kits are not permitted)
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No editing／splicing is accepted.
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The entrants’ face must be clearly visible.
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Entrants should say "Hong Kong International Drummer Festival" to the camera at the beginning of the video
III. Set Pieces Video submission
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The Set pieces is the set of rudiment exercise(s)
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Set pieces download QRCode will be enclosed with the application confirmed page
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3 rudiment scores will be provided for Cat 1, 2 and 4, choose one to perform and submit
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3 rudiment scores will be provided for Cat 3 and 5, choose one to perform and submit
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All competition entries must be accompanied by Link to an online video (either YouTube or bilibili only) of the applicant performing 1 rudimental study (Electronic Kits are not permitted)
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No editing／splicing is accepted.
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The entrants’ face must be clearly visible.
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Entrants should say "Hong Kong International Drummer Festival" to the camera at the beginning of the video
IV. Registration fee
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For All Category, the registration fee is USD $55 / HKD $420 / RMB ¥390 per participant per category in the competition, is non-refundable, and must be received by the application deadline on 1st June
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For the drummers entering the semi-final, the full fee has to be settled, is on top USD $55 / HKD $420 / RMB ¥390 per group per category in the competition, is non-refundable, and must be received by the application deadline on 10th June (after announced on 4th June)
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All the payments (including registration fee and full competition fee) are non-refundable. If applicants cannot settle the fee before the deadline, the HKIDF will consider the application unsuccessful.
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A proof of payment (receipt) has to be provided.
Registration Fee submission
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Paypal (for International & Hong Kong Participants)
OR
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Bank transfer (for Hong Kong Participants)
Bank: Bank of China (Hong Kong)
Account number: 012-758-2-0090421
Account Holder: Hong Kong International Drummer Festival Limited
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Bank in slip should submit along with application
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For applicants who do not have a Paypal or Bank Account, they can authorize third parties to pay on behalf of him/her.
V. Important Notes
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Shortlist drummers’ need to arrange their own visits to Hong Kong.
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All shortlisted drummers (top 10 from category 1,2,3 and top 5 from category 4,5) must be presented in the Semi Final in Hong Kong from 27-29 June, after the semi-final, the shortlist finalist of 3 participants in each category must be present in Hong Kong on 1st July
Competition process:
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Semi Final
Participants will be shortlisted in each category. The result will be announced 3 days after deadline (4th June, 2025) on www.hkdrumfest.com, Facebook Page and via email to the finalists.
1st round shortlisted applicant announcement Date:
o Hong Kong Categories: 4th June (GMT+8 1700)
o Asia-Pacific Categories: 4th June (GMT+8 1700)
Numbers of Shortlisted Drummers by Category
Category 1: 10 drummers
Category 2: 10 drummers
Category 3: 10 drummers
Category 4: 5 drummers
Category 5: 5 drummers
Semi Final Competition Preparation
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The top 10 shortlisted drummers of Cat 1 only need to prepare
o Single stroke speeding up battle
o One Own Song within 5 minutes
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The top 10 shortlisted drummers of Cat 2 and 3 only need to prepare
o a Free drum solo, everyone arranges one drum solo within 2 minutes
o Single stroke speeding up battle
o One Own Song within 5 minutes
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The top 5 shortlisted drummers of Cat 4 only need to prepare
o Chase 4 battle
o One Own Song within 5 minutes
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The top 5 shortlisted drummers of Cat 5 only need to prepare
o Chase 4 battle
o A Free drum solo
o One Own Song within 5 minutes
Semi Final Competition period from 27th June to 29 June
2. Final Battle Competition on 1st July
Final Battle Competition Preparation
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The top 3 shortlisted drummers of Cat 1 only need to prepare
o Single stroke speeding up battle
o One Own Song within 5 minutes
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The top 10 shortlisted drummers of Cat 2 and 3 only need to prepare
o a Free drum solo, everyone arranges one drum solo 32 bars
o Single stroke speeding up battle
o One Own Song within 5 minutes
o Live Band Jamming with *Featured House Band
*Juna Serita (Bass), Terachi Miho (Saxophone) and Jun Abe(Keyboard)
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The top 5 shortlisted drummers of Cat 4 only need to prepare
o Chase 2 battle with *Featured House Band
o One Own Song within 5 minutes
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The top 5 shortlisted drummers of Cat 5 only need to prepare
o Chase 2 battle with *Featured House Band
o A Free drum solo
o One Own Song within 5 minutes
Conclusion
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The top three winners will be invited to participate in the "Asia Pacific Drummer Competition Awards Ceremony" to receive the awards on 1st July.
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All shortlisted drummers (top 10 from category 1,2,3 and top 5 from category 4,5) must be presented in the Semi-final round in Hong Kong on 27th June to 29th June. And the shortlist 3 winners of Each Category must be presented in the Final Battle round in Hong Kong on 1st July.
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The award ceremony will be released on the HKDrumFest YouTube channel on 10th July 7pm.
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Shortlist drummers’ need to arrange their own visits to Hong Kong.
IMPORTANT DATES
Asia Pacific Drummer Competition - Semi-final Battle
Date: 27-29th June 2025
Venue: The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong
Asia Pacific Drummer Competition - Final Battle
Date: 1 July 2025
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall
Asia Pacific Drummer Competition Final Battle Concert video premiered
Date: 10 July 2025
Time: 7:30pm
Competition Judging criteria
Participants will be marked out of 100 on six separate competencies, including technique (20), accuracy (20), musicianship (15), color and timbre (15), creativity and innovation (15), and virtuosity (15). With the agreement of the jury panel, the finalist with the highest score will be the winner. All participants will be awarded with a graded certificate. The decision of the jury panel is final.
The total number of marks available in a competition is 100.
o 60 marks to pass;
o 80 marks to pass with Merit;
o 90 marks to pass with Distinction.