Jim Kilpatrick MBE started playing drums at the age of 10. His progress was so rapid that within two years he was competing at the highest level in Grade 1 competition.
At the age of 15, Jim joined Shotts & Dyjkehead Caledonia Pipe Band, where he won his first World Drum Corps and World Pipe Band Championships - the first of Jim's record nineteen World Drum Corps Championships. Fifteen of these titles have been won as a leading drummer. This also includes winning the World Drum Corps Championship for a record breaking eleven years in a row between 1988 and 1998.
Jim’s move into the solo drumming arena proved to be equally successful. He has smashed every record in the books by winning the RSPBA World Solo Drumming Championships no less then sixteen times. He is also the current holder of the Champion of Champions title, a title he has won three times.
Another record Jim holds is that of being the only leading drummer ever to win the 'Grand Slam', which consists of winning all five major drum corps championships in one season in 1991. This run coincided with him actually winning 10 major drumming championships in a row over three seasons between 1990 and 1992.
Education
Jim’s talent and reputation is such that he is continuously invited to teach in schools and colleges all over the world, as well as making countless master class appearances at drum clinics and percussion festivals around the world including the Royal School of Music (London & Glasgow) and the Percussive Arts Society conventions in the USA.
Jim instructs percussion students at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, where he holds the post of principal percussion instructor for the BA (Scottish Music) with Honours. He is also an appointed examiner to the Scottish Qualifications Authority, which involves the assessment of Standard and Higher Grade Music students from all over Scotland.
Endorsements
Jim is proud to be an endorser for British Drum Co, Hardcase, Pandall May International, Remo, Rolandand Vic Firth.