David Ortega


Location: Pickerington, OH

Challenge: Autism (Aspergers Syndrome)

Website: facebook.com/david.a.ortega2

David Ortega is a drunmmer with autism from Pickerington, Ohio.

David says "I was born in Miami, Florida, Moved in Pickerington, Ohio been here since 2000". David has been playing drums since he was 12 years old after his 5th grade year. He was invited to play in the Guitar Center's Drum Off in 2007 for the first time. He adds "But I turn it down". In 6thgrade he was 1 out of 40 students who made it in percussion with Autism. He adds "I played for the Pickerington Central Tigers for 4 years, Christmas Choral Drummer once, and Jazz Band's 2011 and 2012's drummer".

David has competed in the Guitar Center's drum off since 2012 to the present day. He hopes to make it into the Grand Finals someday. He adds "I've also made it to the semi Finals for Chip Ritter's DSI Drum Off".

He went to a drum clinic once to meet his hero, Scott Pellegrom.

David is an Independent Drummer.

His inspirations for drumming come from Dylan Elise, Omar Hakim, Manu Katche, Kiko freitas, Scott Pellegrom (Former 2006 Drum Off Grand Finalist), Gavin Herrison, Jose Rosa, Xavier Mural (Drummer of Buck Cherry), Jesus Mendoza Garcia (former 2006/2011 Drum Off Finalist, T Clemente Band), Ed Francis, Andrew Hewitt, and David Segal.

David plays a Pearl Vision series drum kit in a Clear Birch Finish with Sabian cymbals. He uses Promark drumsticks and Evans drum heads.


David Ortega