Jim Mola
Jim Mola enjoys a multifaceted career in music. He has performed or recorded with jazz legends Phil Woods, Hank Jones, and Stanley Turrentine; wildly diverse entertainers like Tony Bennett, Weird Al Yankovic and Henny Youngman; and has played drums as well as percussion on numerous recordings and commercials.
Jim is also active as a studio vocalist and voice-over artist, counting Family Guy, Robert DeNiro, NBC, Pixar, iHeart Radio, DL Hughley, The Smithsonian and many others as clients in commercials, radio and film. He has been the voice of the Jolly Green Giant, Pepperidge Farms Goldfish, Hefty Bags and many more.
As an educator, Jim is president of the New York chapter of the Percussive Arts Society and also serves on the PAS Drum Set Committee. He a member of the Sabian Education Network and spent a decade on the faculty of The Collective School of Music in New York City. Jim teaches privately in New York and remotely worldwide, leads a successful drum camp each summer, and also travels as a clinician.
Jim endorses Sabian cymbals, Vater drumsticks, Aquarian drumheads, Humes and Berg cases, Prologix practice pads, and Cympad cymbal optimizers.
Timothy Thompson
Timothy Thompson is a third-generation drummer— following a tradition that started with his grandfather, Gifford W. Thompson Sr., who played in Jazz and Dance Bands in Philadelphia in the 1920’s. He has been a passionate percussionist for over 45 years and his drumming study spans a wide range of genres, including jazz, rock, blues, fusion, funk and worship.
Tim’s unique variety of interests and experiences served as a catalyst for his development as a professional drummer and a successful instructor. While attending Penn State University and Houghton College, Tim developed a passion for drum corps and began arranging and teaching High School level competitive drumlines. This combination of teaching Drum Kit as well as Battery Percussion has inspired a new generation of percussionists in New York and Pennsylvania.
In 2011, Tim began Hamburg Percussion to meet the needs of Elementary through High School students by providing instruction, performance and competitive percussion opportunities to augment school supported activities. He currently remains in high demand with 50+ private students and as a Battery Instructor for local High Schools. Tim also developed a mentorship program as a Villa Maria College Official Internship Site for Music/Percussion Students.
Many of Tim’s current projects include creating the David Stephans Jr. Memorial Scholarship for High School students pursuing Music Education/Performance degrees. Tim is also a passionate supporter of Western New York Drummers for Homeless People 501c3 that provides assistance and clothing to local homeless individuals.
Tim is a member of Percussive Arts Society Diversity Alliance Committee, Sabian Education Network, Professional Drum Teachers Guild of America, Vic Firth Education Team, D’Addario Education Collective, DrumDots – Authorized Education Partner, and Erie County Music Educators Association/New York State School Music Association.
Timothy Thompson is based out of the Buffalo/Niagara Region of New York and is honored to be affiliated with Hit Like a Girl Contest.
Sarah Tomek
Born and raised in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Sarah found her-self behind the kit at an early age. Her father, Joe Tomek, a formidable drummer in the New York 70!s rock scene, inspired and shaped her natural talents. Sarah studied at Berklee College of Music’s Latin Summer Seminar and remained in private instruction through her teens as she became a club staple at world famous venues throughout NYC and NJ. By the time she was 20, she began making her name as a session player and eventually made the move to music city.
Since 2012, Sarah has found herself as a prominent Nashville drummer backing such acts as Steven Tyler’s Loving Mary Band, Gretchen Wilson, Samantha Fish, Florida Georgia Line, Maggie Rose and Them Vibes. Her precocious ability to play a multitude of genres with effortless pocket and feel made her an easy choice for many producers in the studio as well. Her stu-dio efforts include: Manolo Garcia’s Latin Grammy Award winning record, “Geometria Del Rayo”, Maggie Rose’s 13 piece band live record, “Change The Whole Thing” and Foreigners “I’d Give My Life for Love” to name a few.
Sarah has had the privilege of being the featured house drummer on “Late Night w/ Seth Meyers”, had features in Modern Drummer Magazine and has shared stages with artists including Steven Tyler and Sara Bareilles on The Tonight Show w/Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America, PBS, Late Show w/
Seth Meyers and The Late Show w/ Steven Colbert.
Lindsey Raye Ward
Lindsey Raye Ward is a Los Angeles- based drummer originally residing in Prescott, Arizona. She started playing drums at the age of 9, and has pursued music as her passion ever since. Lindsay is well-known for her YouTube channel where her drum cover of Sia’s hit “Chandelier” has reached more than two million views. She has also performed with artists such as Tayler Buono, Ryan White, Oh, Be Clever, and Mint. She proudly endorses Truth Custom Drums, Vater Drum Sticks, and TRX Cymbals.