A 12-year-old from Lincolnshire is rock n rolling across Asia after being chosen to star in the School of Rock musical as it tours South Korea and Hong Kong.
Sam Bickmore, from Grantham, became one of the UK’s youngest people to achieve the highest-level qualification in drumming after earning a distinction in his Grade 8 exam at Trinity College London when he was just 10.
He has also built up a reputation in his hometown by playing at various live events in Grantham, including the 2022 Knipfest charity musical festival.
Now, he’s performing as Freddy in the highly-acclaimed Andrew Lloyd Webber musical as it showcases in cities across South Korea through to summer.
His father Gary Bickmore, 55, said his family first noticed the young prodigy’s interest in drumming when he would tap away on pots and pans alongside songs on the radio.
“I didn’t think at that point it was anything special, but it’s kept snowballing into the amazing talent he has now,” Mr Bickmore said.
His family also help him to run a YouTube channel, posting videos to show off his high drumming skill and highlighting one of his live performances for the show.
The show debuted in the Seoul Arts Centre Opera House on January 12, and Sam will play dozens of dates before the tour concludes in Hong Kong later this summer.
“He finds such joy in playing live,” Mr Bickmore said. “I couldn’t be prouder of his journey.”