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Kids On The Move: Sam Judkis

08/27/2008 - By by Gayle Davis

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STICKING TO THE BEAT

Here’s your chance to meet a 16-year-old musician from Oceanport, NJ, who is quickly making his way with drumsticks in hand. His name – Sam Judkis. He says he remembers going to the music stores in Red Bank with his dad when he was little, banging away in the shop. At the age of 12 Judkis traded in his trombone (which he played in middle school) for his very own drum set.
 
He first took lessons with John Gronert, a union drummer from the area who plays with local jazz musicians. That’s where Sam says he got his foundation. But after 3 years of lessons with Gronert, the young drummerbecame intrigued when he heard about a new music school in Monmouth County called The Paul Green School of Rock. He signed up almost 2 years ago, and has proved that the cream does rise to the top!
 
Judkis auditioned for the school’s All Stars (top students) and was accepted. This honor has afforded him the opportunity to tour and play with John Anderson (from YES) and perform with Starship Trooper and Roundabout at various clubs on the East Coast, including BB King’s in New York and in Canada. He has also performed in Philadelphia for the school’s Festival, where thousands of fans came out to watch these young talents. Groups such as Devo, the Dropkick Murphys, and Less Than Jake also shared the stage at the venue. But what Sam was really looking forward to was his chance to perform at Lollapalooza 2008 at Grant Park in Chicago.* He will have shared the same stage alongside such great bands as Nine Inch Nails, Kanye West, Radiohead, Gnarls Barkley, Rage Against the Machine, and so many more.
 
Judkis said, “The show will last for 3 days and we will be performing, or “practicing,” at bars and clubs along the way to the huge show in Chicago.” On stage he’ll have been beating along to such hits as “Fool In The Rain,” by Led Zeppelin, “Anyway You Want It,” by Journey, “Hey,” by The Pixies, and “Institutionalized,” by Suicidal Tendencies. “I think the whole thing is really cool. Thousands of people will be watching.” After Chicago, the next stop planned is Germany. That’s where Sam and the rest of his All Star group will perform at the Zappanale Festival, a celebration of the late Frank Zappa’s music.
 
Through this affiliation, Sam is also part of a separate band called Awkward Silence, with kids he has met through the school. “We’ve played at the Stone Pony and The Saint [both in Asbury Park].” Judkis said these venues are always looking for bands to perform, and Awkward Silence always looks to seize the opportunity and get the experience! They’ve also asked the Director of the school, Mark Biondi, to be their manager.
 
When Sam is not banging away at the drums, he is involved in missionary work with his church youth group. Aside from weekly meetings during the school year, every summer he takes part in a week-long trip to some location to help people who are in need. He also attends the MAST (Marine Academy of Science and Technology) program in Sandy Hook. That’s where he studies marine biology and chemistry. Once a week he hits the ocean on the school’s boat, called The Blue Sea, as part of the curriculum. It’s a 65-foot research vessel, owned and operated by the Marine Academy. Sam shared that all students who attend the academy must take part in the NJROTC – the Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps. He added, “I had visited the school at one point, liked it, and decided I wanted to go there.”
 

As for the high school junior’s long-term goals…“I would like to do this [drum] for a profession and make money with it.” He looks up to Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham because he likes his intricate, hard-rock-style of drumming, and says it’s challenging. Sam plays about 10 hours a week. “My parents and neighbors don’t mind listening to me play in the house all day long.”

 

STATS
 
FAVORITE RESTAURANT
Sawa
 
FAVORITE MUSICAL GROUP
Led Zeppelin
 
FAVORITE MOVIE
Anchorman
 
PET PEEVE
I am not bothered by much
 
THREE PEOPLE YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH
John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, Keith Moon of The Who, and John Lennon  

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