ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. — Promising young drummers from around the country once again made their way to Southern Maryland earlier this month for the SoMar Drummers Mid-Atlantic Drum Camp. The camp is fast becoming one of the best of its kind, recognized as a one-of-a-kind training ground by some of the world’s most prominent drummers.
Founder Sheila Klotz has been drumming since she was a kid. She went on to study music at West Virginia and later joined the U.S. Air Force Band. While raising her family, she served as the commander of the U.S. National Guard Bands. Klotz’s enthusiasm for drumming is only outmatched by her passion for training up the next generation of drummers.
“We want to give people the tools so they can be that next generation, so they can really expand what’s possible,” she said.
Klotz said that drumming also is incredibly beneficial for kids who don’t plan to become professional drummers. Drumming, and music as a whole, is good for mental health and stimulates other parts of the brain that can help you learn. Drumming is especially popular for STEM-focused students.
Klotz said part of the camp’s success is that she’s been able to get fantastic instructors. When she hears of someone online who young people follow and learn from, she seeks them out. She doesn’t just pay attention to what they do, but how they do it and how they teach the information.
“Some people really have it when it comes to teaching,” Klotz said. “Not all drummers can teach, and that’s okay. But a lot of them have this spark that makes a young drummer see something in a new way. My goal is to bring people in who inspire others to learn.”
The story of the camp is also, in many ways, a COVID story. Klotz started the camp as Maryland re-opened after the pandemic closures. She started with eight kids in a garage — drum sets were six feet apart. She felt strongly that the kids needed somewhere to go and a place to express themselves and be with other creative people.
Drummer and instructor Alex Cohen agreed that this was exactly what they all needed at the time. The world was beginning to open up, and he wanted to give back.
Cohen is a world-renowned progressive drummer and teacher who has published several drumming instruction books. He was the perfect fit for the Mid-Atlantic Drum Camp.
“Sheila and Matt make it special,” Cohen said. “They go out of their way to be really fantastic administrators and managers, and they bring in these faculty that are awesome and dedicated. They really get the top of the top.”
The opportunity to learn with such high-level drummers like Cohen and Matt Garstka is what draws drummers to the camp. Klotz designs the program so the drummers get to experience all types of drumming to deepen their knowledge and find their voice. It’s what makes the camp so sought-after by drummers all over the country.
The program is so important to Cohen that he taught at the 2025 camp while battling brain cancer.
Cohen was wrapping up his treatment at the time of publication and is expected to live “a long time,” but said he found incredible support in the drum community. Getting to work on his music and teaching helped him stay connected to who he is outside of his treatments.
“It’s hard. You have fatigue, you have brain fog,” he said. “But doing the camp reminded me every day that there was life after this. I have so much to look forward to.”
He added that he formed lifelong connections at camps when he was younger. In fact, he met Matt Garstka at a camp when they were 16. They’ve been friends ever since.
Cohen plans to be at the camp next year, and Klotz is already prepping programming. Both agree that watching the students’ achievements is the best part — Klotz said she loves the end-of-week performance. She hopes people will continue to get inspired by drumming, even if it’s just a hobby.
“Life’s too short to not do the things you’ve always wanted to do,” Cohen said. “Don’t have regrets that you didn’t play or put in the time. If you love it, go for it. Have fun, meet new people, enjoy a hobby. Go do it!”
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