We have four drumming instructors at Renaissance, and between them they cover all corners of the drumming world. Students can learn rudiments and drumming techniques that can prepare them for every setting from a small jazz combo to a rock group and an orchestra to a big band!

Sean Donaldson

Sean has been on staff at Renaissance for four years. He is a primarily a snare drummer who has played with pipe bands from an early age. As a pipe band snare drummer, Sean has won the World Solo Juvenile Drumming Championships, and recently was awarded Professional Drummer of the Year in Ontario. He has played for a number of professional pipe bands, including the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band and the Toronto Police Pipe Band. He has travelled through Canada, the US and Scotland many times to compete and perform in both solo and ensemble settings.

In addition to his snare drum experience, Sean performs and teaches regularly on the drumset. He is a member of the Kingston reggae band Tea For The Voyage, and was principal percussionist with the Kingston Youth Orchestra, the Frontenac Secondary School Symphonic Band, and the Frontenac Secondary School Jazz Ensemble. Sean currently plays percussion with the Kingston Symphony.

Justin Bell

Justin has been a kit drummer since the age of 5. He played in the Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra from 2003-2006 and most recently, (2005-2006) as Principal Percussionist.
Justin’s performances with the Symphony largely took place in Rochester, New York and included two European tours. He participated in field band competitions from 2002 to 2006. In addition, he has played in numerous jazz, rock bands, pit orchestras and ensembles. He is presently a student at Queen’s University studying percussion as a music minor.

Rob Radford

Bio coming soon!

Rich Bannard

Initially graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Queen's University, Rich studied drums in Kingston with Chris McCann before moving to Toronto in 1979 to further his studies with Jim Blackley and Andrew Cyrille (N.Y.C.) while also taking piano with Ted Moses.

Over the next ten years, Rich taught drums at the Musicians' Workshop in Toronto. He has performed extensively with Rainer Wiens' Silk Stockings, the Bill Smith Ensemble, and the Fred Stone Orchestra. There have been performances at the Toronto and Vancouver jazz festivals. Theatre work has included a tour of Czechoslovakia with Sound Image Theatre, Banuta Rubess' play "Boom Baby, Boom" featuring Ann Marie McDonald, and Contemporary Music Project's performance of Michael Ondaatje's "Man with Seven Toes".

International musicians Rich has performed with include Roscoe Mitchell, Joe McPhee, and Vinna Golia (U.S.A.), John Tchicai (Denmark), and Paul Rutherford (England).

Rich moved back to Kingston with his family in 1990. He has performed and recorded with Dave Barton, Rob Frayne's reFrayne quintet, Andy Poole and Pat Murray. Current activities include performances with Chris Alfano's Swingmasters, and the Sunday Trio (featuring Jonathan Stewart and Michael Perlin).

Rich recently participated in a master class with legendary drummer Joe Morello at Renaissance Music.

Teaching drums has been very rewarding and challenging. Although primarily involved in playing jazz, this background provides an excellent foundation for teaching the fundamentals of drumming.