Artist Biography

Jay Kalo & Alberto Garcia
11:00 H - MAINSTAGE

Havana-born drummer Jay Kalo began his musical training at age ten, later refining his craft at Cuba’s National School of Art (ENA). A two-time winner of the International Drum Festival in Cuba, Jay Kalo gained early international prominence at the age of 17, performing with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in New York. His professional career includes notable collaborations with artists such as Omara Portuondo, Maria del Mar Bonet, and Alain Pérez, featuring on the latter’s album El cuento de la buena pipa. In recent years, Jay Kalo has expanded his influence beyond the stage, becoming a social media star by sharing his virtuosic technique and musicality with a global digital audience.

Alberto Garcia Born in Gran Canaria in 1990, Alberto García is a versatile percussionist, composer, producer, and educator with a distinctive voice in contemporary jazz. He currently serves as a Professor of Jazz Percussion at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Mannheim, Germany, and is a Lecturer in Jazz Percussion at Jazzcampus Basel, part of the FHNW Academy of Music.His musical identity integrates jazz, flamenco, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian traditions, allowing him to move fluidly between rhythmic heritage and modern improvisation. This personal style has led to collaborations with distinguished artists such as Seamus Blake, Alfredo de la Fé, Haila, Alain Pérez, and Michael Pipoquinha. As a bandleader and producer, García has released projects including Rajazz feat. Jeff Ballard, Transformed Reverence feat. Jorge Rossy and Eliel Lazo, Fuego y Agua feat. Alcibiades Durruthy, and many more, continuing to explore the intersection of global percussion and jazz.

RAMON MONTAGNER
12:05 H - MAINSTAGE
18:20-18:50 H MASTERCLASS TENT

With over 30 years of experience, Brazilian drummer and educator Ramon Montagner is a leading innovator in modern percussion. His professional career gained momentum in the 1990s through an extensive tenure with Johnny Alf, later evolving into a solo career.Montagner is renowned for blending traditional rhythms like Samba and Baião with advanced technical innovations, including his proprietary Duo-Grip technique and specialized applications of Push-Pull and Slide movements. A prolific author and pedagogue, he published the influential book Drums and Contrabass in Brazilian Music and released Brazil’s first instructional DVD dedicated to brush techniques.Throughout his career, he has collaborated with diverse acts ranging from Luiza Possi and São Paulo Ska Jazz to the Orquestra Sinfônica Heliópolis. Today, Montagner maintains a global presence through international workshops and online courses, while continuing to teach at IP&T in São Paulo. Currently, Montagner lives in Milan and accompanies Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti on his world tour.

XAVIER WARE
13:10 H - MAINSTAGE

Originally from Beaufort, North Carolina, Xavier Ware began his musical journey in the church at the age of two, later refining his technical precision and theory through formal academic training. His early talent earned him three selections for the North Carolina All-State Jazz Band, a foundation he expanded upon while performing extensively throughout North Carolina’s Triangle area.Ware is a highly versatile session and touring drummer whose portfolio spans from power pop to thrash metal. Recently, he gained international touring experience as a member of Bilmuri. His career reached a significant milestone through his connection with Mike Muir, contributing to Muir's solo work before being officially announced as the new drummer for the legendary hardcore punk band Suicidal Tendencies.

HELEN DE LA ROSA
14:15 H - MAINSTAGE

From commanding the world’s biggest arena stages to making academic history, drummer, producer, and educator Helen De La Rosa is one of the most captivating and in-demand forces in the modern drum world. She skyrocketed onto the international scene touring stadiums globally alongside Spanish superstar Alejandro Sanz for five years, sharing the stage with icons like Shakira, Camila Cabello, Maná, and Arturo Sandoval. As the first and only Dominican to receive the prestigious Presidential Scholarship from Berklee College of Music, her explosive groove and world-class versatility have led her to collaborate with legendary superstars like Juan Luis Guerra and Victor Wooten, as well as rising stars like MARO. Recognized by Modern Drummer and featured as a PASIC cover star, Helen has cemented her status as an elite global performer who commands the spotlight at major international conventions and masterclasses worldwide.Now based in Los Angeles, Helen bridges the worlds of high-profile performance and music production, collaborating with heavyweights ranging from multi-Grammy winner Philip Lassiter to rising star Doechii, while co-founding her own drum duo, BacktoBackBeat, with former Karol G drummer Giulliana Merello. As a flagship Meinl endorsing artist, she serves as a powerful global voice for the brand. She recently inspired key distributors at the historic first edition of the Meinl LATAM Summit in Guatemala in 2025. Whether tracking in emblematic Hollywood spaces like EastWest Studios or touring Europe with her dynamic drum duo, Helen continuously pushes the boundaries of modern rhythm. She is set to bring this electrifying artistry to the global stage as a main featured artist at the 2026 Meinl Drum Festival in Germany.

PAQUITO GONZALEZ 
& JOSE QUEVEDO
15:20 H - MAINSTAGE
16:10 - 16:40 H MASTERCLASS TENT

Hailing from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Paquito González is a premier Spanish flamenco percussionist known for his expressive and versatile style. A mainstay in the contemporary scene, he is the regular percussionist for flamenco icons Vicente Amigo and Miguel Poveda. His career began with the group Salmarina before he joined Manolo Sanlúcar’s ensemble in 2000, eventually collaborating with a "who's who" of flamenco, including Paco de Lucía, Tomatito, José Mercé, and Estrella Morente.González’s extensive discography spans over 100 albums and film projects with director Carlos Saura. His international presence is equally formidable, with performances at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Blue Note Tokyo, and Royal Albert Hall. Beyond his work as a sideman, he contributes to innovative projects like **Ultra High Flamenco** and has co-produced the award-winning educational resource Paquito González’s Flamenco Box. Whether in the studio or on world stages, his playing remains a benchmark for dynamic, soulful percussion.

EL ESTEPARIO SIBERIANO
16:35 H - MAINSTAGE

Valencia-born drummer El Estepario Siberiano has emerged as the world's most popular drummer across social media, amassing a global audience of millions. His professional career began at the age of 17 performing in bands, but his trajectory changed in 2019 when he pivoted to creating digital content. Within two years, his virtuosic videos went viral, establishing him as a dominant force in the modern drumming community.Known for his extraordinary speed, endurance, and signature one-handed performances of complex rock and metal tracks, he has earned public praise from industry legends like Mike Portnoy, Tommy Lee, and Jack Black. Beyond his digital presence, he has performed with the metal band Saratoga and toured with Residente. Today, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential drummers of his generation, recognized by major institutions like Drumeo for his precision and creative approach to the instrument.

ISAC JAMBA
17:40 H - MAINSTAGE

With over 33 years of professional experience, Isac Jamba is a master of Brazilian drumming, celebrated for his extraordinary musicianship and deep command of what he considers the world's richest rhythms. Born in Ipatinga, Minas Gerais, Jamba was a child prodigy who began drums at age of 5, heavily influenced by the choro and samba traditions passed down through his musical family. His career is marked by prolific versatility, with credits on more than 80 recordings and performances alongside numerous nationally recognized Brazilian artists. Jamba’s technical prowess has earned him high-level accolades.Beyond the stage, Jamba is a dedicated educator and philanthropist. He founded the Jamba Battery Institute ("Portas Abertas"), which has supported dozens of students through community-focused music programs. Today, he remains a global ambassador for Brazilian music, sharing his virtuosic technique and pedagogical expertise through international workshops and his digital platforms.

MIGUEL LAMAS
18:45 H - MAINSTAGE

An award-winning virtuoso who began playing at age of 4, Miguel Lamas has evolved into one of the world’s premier contemporary drummers. His professional trajectory began remarkably early, with his first paid performance at age eight and an international European tour by the age of fourteen. Today, he is a mainstay on the global clinic and festival circuit, playing major events such as the Meinl Drum Festival, the UK Drum Show, and many more.Lamas is one of the most prolific session musicians in the Latin-pop scene, having recorded and toured with superstars including Melendi, Dani Martín, Pablo Alborán, and Carlos Rivera. Based in Madrid, Lamas continues to influence the global drumming community through his international tours, online recording services, and a technical mastery that has solidified his status as a modern drum icon.Here at the Meinl Drum Festival, his artistic depth is showcased through the Miguel Lamas Trio, featuring keyboardist Jorge Vera and bassist JM Popo.

MATT GARSTKA (ANIMALS AS LEADERS)
19:55 H - MAINSTAGE

American drummer Matt Garstka is a central figure in modern progressive music, best known for his virtuosic role in the instrumental trio Animals as Leaders. Raised in a musical household, he began playing at age eight and was performing professionally by twelve. His early foundation in rock, blues, and jazz was further refined at Berklee College of Music, eventually leading him to join Animals as Leaders, where his surgical precision and mastery of polyrhythms redefined the standards of the "djent" and progressive metal genres.His tenure with Animals as Leaders has been defined by a relentless push for rhythmic innovation. Following the 2022 release of the critically acclaimed album Parrhesia, Garstka’s performances on tracks like "Monomyth" and "Micro-Aggressions" solidified his reputation as one of the world's most technically advanced drummers. Beyond the metal sphere, Garstka is a premier collaborator in the jazz-fusion world, most notably through his work with visionary pianist Tigran Hamasyan. He is a featured performer on Hamasyan’s 2026 masterpiece, Manifeste, where his drumming anchors complex, ritualistic compositions that blend Armenian folk melodies with aggressive, progressive grooves. His ability to navigate Hamasyan’s dense rhythmic structures—particularly on tracks like "A Eye (The Digital Leviathan)"—showcases a level of musicianship that bridges the gap between mathematical complexity and raw, emotional energy.Garstka has also become a leading educator and innovator, launching the Matt Garstka Signature Drums library with GetGood Drums and continuing to develop his signature series with Meinl Cymbals. Now recognized globally as a visionary of the instrument, he remains an essential reference for contemporary percussionists, constantly expanding the boundaries of four-way independence and metric displacement.

SIMON GATTRINGER
15:10 - 15:40 H - MASTERCLASS TENT

Simon Gattringer was born on May 24, 1986 in Linz / Austria. Simon got his first drum set at the age of 6 from his uncle, who further inspired his passion for music. After autodidactic drum playing followed some years of lessons at the Upper Austrian Landesmusikschulwerk and at the Music School Linz. In 2008, Simon was awarded as the best young drummer of Austria. After studying at the Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz, he completed the “Popkurs” at the Hamburg University of Music and Drama. Afterward, a new chapter in his musical career began.After only a short time, Simon was one of the most sought-after session drummers in Germany. Since then he has been successfully working as a live and studio drummer for various artists. Simon has performed and recorded with artists such as Johannes Oerding, Udo Lindenberg, Max Mutzke, Joy Denalane, Max Herre, Sasha, Jan Delay, Adel Tawil, Helene Fischer, Nils Wülker and many more.

RICARDA RAABE
15:10 - 15:40 H - DRUM CIRCLE

Ricarda Raabe has been a passionate percussionist for more than 30 years and an international Drum Circle Facilitator for over 20 years. For her, rhythm is far more than music, it is connection, expression, and pure joy of life.As a trainer and educator, she works with universities of music, music academies, and a wide range of educational and cultural projects. With her self-developed training program, “Creative Rhythm Facilitator,” she combines creative rhythm experiences, community building, and personal development in a unique and inspiring way.Her work includes Open Community Drum Circles as well as customized programs for companies, educational institutions, social organizations, and events. Through her extensive experience at congresses and conferences, she has a special ability to bring together people from diverse backgrounds through the power of rhythm.Her motto, “Pure Rhythm – bringing people together for more joy in life,” is reflected in all of her work. In the spirit of “Our passion: drumming for everyone,” Ricarda Raabe creates inspiring spaces where community, creativity, and the joy of making music together can be experienced by everyone.