LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A South Plains College commercial music graduate has beaten out thousands of drummers nationwide to secure a spot in the final round of the 2026 Guitar Center Drum-Off in Hollywood.
Jake Ward, a 2023 SPC graduate and current BYU undergraduate in Provo, Utah, will compete against five other finalists on Aug. 20 at the historic Fonda Theatre in Hollywood.
Ward’s path to the finals required advancing through three competitive rounds, starting with an initial video submission, progressing to a live performance in Denver and finally winning a regional competition in Hollywood.
Ward admits he almost didn’t enter if not for his wife, Corinne. “She really pushed me a week before submissions closed to record and submit a video,” Ward said. “I felt very fortunate that a lot of my family members and friends stood by my side.”
After serving a church mission, Ward moved to Lubbock, where Creative Arts faculty members Brent and Emily Wheeler mentored him and introduced him to SPC’s music pathways.
Ward credits the commercial music program at SPC for molding him into a professional performer.
“The fundamentals of who I am as a musician come from me being at South Plains College,” Ward said. “They taught me how to be a professional and how to really thrive in music.”
Following the competition, Ward plans to complete his bachelor’s degree in commercial music at BYU, attend graduate school, and continue to hone his craft in professional settings.
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