Lewis Blackwood - Percussionist.

Lewis studied music in London at The Royal College of Music. In his time there he was awarded the  Douglas and Hilda Simmonds Scholarship after his entrance audition and while in London he has taught with a few private schools and continues to teach online for his London students and in person for his Scottish students. His former drum kit teacher Ralph Salmin says of Lewis:

“Lewis has the ability to take his drum set playing to world-class levels and I expect him to do so.   I would describe Lewis as one of the most talented drummers I have here (Royal College of Music) in over thirty years.” 2023

Ralph Salmins - Drummer/Producer/Composer/Clinician/Professor at The Royal College of Music & Guildhall School of Music & Drama

To allow Lewis to continue studying in London he was supported by The Cross Trust, The Dewar Arts Awards and The Stirlingshire Educational Trust.

Previous to studying in London Lewis was a member of the Junior department at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and has received tuition from Lachie Birch and Alasdair Rankin. He has won many competitions over the years including:

Colin Currie Percussion Competition winner RCS Junior Department 1st PlaceOverall winner of Youth Solo Contest Advanced Category The Cooperation Band 
Awards for Young Musicians award winner 
Rotary Young Musician Competition Falkirk District 1st Place 
Young Personality of the Year - Falkirk District Arts and Civic Council 
International Tuned Percussion Competition 2nd Place 
St Cecilia Trophy Larbert High School 

“In the last two years in particular I have observed Lewis develop his playing to an exceptional level.   His marimba playing in particular is at a very advanced standard.   In my 26 years teaching at the RCS I have never seen this, in someone quite so young.” 2018

Lachie Birch - Percussion Tutor RCS Junior Department.

Over the years Lewis has performed with many different orchestras most notably The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland where he received funding to attend. He has performed at the Edinburgh Festival in shows and also for shows in London and Scotland. At the moment Lewis enjoys performing in Jazz groups and recently played at Spencer House.

Although only 20 Lewis has been teaching from the age of 14 and has a wealth of knowledge on percussion to pass on to the next generation. As an all round percussionist he is able to teach all orchestral percussion and drum kit. Having passed his own grade 8 ABRSM percussion exam with 142/150 he knows what it takes to get through exams and is happy to present pupils for trinity rock and pop drum kit, trinity drum kit or ABRSM percussion.