ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. – Held at the waterfront campus of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the 2026 Drum Camp for ages 10-23 drew its most diverse roster to date. Aspiring young drummers from across the U.S. worked alongside drummers from the U.K., New Zealand and Vietnam. This global turnout marks a historic milestone for the camp, proving that world-class music education knows no geographic boundaries.
The 2026 Mid Atlantic Drum Camp officially elevated its legacy in July, transforming from a premier regional powerhouse into an international destination for aspiring drummers ages 10-23.
The camp’s massive draw this year stems from a powerhouse faculty lineup, including:
Matt Garstka: The virtuoso powerhouse behind the progressive metal band Animals as Leaders, renowned worldwide for his mind-bending polyrhythms, complex time signatures coupled with mathematical and technical precision.
Sheila Klotz: St. Mary’s County resident and the driving force behind the camp, this acclaimed educator teaches the essential musicality needed for real-world performances and develops each artist’s curriculum to embody the camp’s overall objective.
Zack Greybeal (ZackGrooves): The genre-fluid internet sensation taught a unique blend of viral energy and creativity, focusing on personal experiences, goal setting and infusing his deep groove dynamic into each session.
Austin Burcham: His mastery of mixing and mastering the drums, he nearly “gave away everything he knows” (student quote).
A cultural tapestry came from Monet Davis and Jaren Hodge of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The duo made the journey to the mainland, bringing the vibrant, infectious rhythms and hybrid grooves of the Caribbean. Their musical heritage permeated the camp, blending traditional Caribbean grooves seamlessly with progressive concepts, exercises and techniques.
Lang Zhao wowed and transformed students’ approach to practice concepts and developing advanced musicality. Alex Cohen established a solid skill-building foundation for young drummers. Justin Scott took students through his new book (check it out).
What Is the Mid Atlantic Drum Camp?
Origin: Started during the COVID-19 lockdown as a five-day, eight-student garage session to help fight isolation.
Evolution: Rapidly grew into a premier training program run by the nonprofit SoMar Drummers Inc.
Elite Leadership: Co-led by SoMar founder Sheila Klotz (education director) and renowned drummer Matt Garstka (artistic relations).
Star-Studded Mentorship: Garstka recruits titan guest artists while Klotz custom builds the camp and individual artists’ evolving curricula.
Core Focus: Heavy emphasis on foundational mastery, essential grooves and core techniques for young drummers.
Global Community: Camp highlights are shared worldwide via its website, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
