Modern Drummer magazine, alongside Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), Carrie Peart (Trustee of The Estate of Neil Peart), and Olivia Peart, is proud to announce Celeste Fox as the recipient of the 2026 Neil Peart Spirit of Drumming Scholarship.

Established to honor the legendary Neil Peart by inspiring and nurturing a young drummer with the goal of developing the next generation of drumming talent, the annual award celebrates the extraordinary musicianship, lifelong artistic growth, integrity, and discipline that defined the iconic Rush drummer and lyricist. Fox joins an elite lineage of previous recipients—including Maxx Rinkus, Aimee Peckham, and Steven Malek—who embody Peart’s passionate dedication to the craft.

To apply for the global scholarship, eligible drummers must submit a video performance alongside a personal essay describing how Peart’s groundbreaking, legendary playing and personal philosophy have shaped their own musical journey. Fox stood out in an incredibly competitive global field of applicants, demonstrating an elite baseline of percussive proficiency along with a passionate, expressive essay. Advertisement

“Universal Music Enterprises is once again proud to support the Neil Peart Spirit Of Drumming Scholarship, and we are thrilled to present the 2026 recipient Celeste Fox with a selection of Neil’s greatest works with Rush.” — Dennis Wolfe, SVP, Head of A&R, UMe

“Celeste was a clear choice for us, as her percussion skills are exceptional, with an impressive rendition of John Bonham’s ‘Moby Dick’ drum solo standing out as the highlight of her video.” Equally impressive is her in-depth knowledge of Neil’s work, philosophy and character, which she beautifully conveyed in her essay. We are also very happy to announce our first personal gift to a Scholarship recipient! As Rush is touring for the first time in eleven years, Celeste will be receiving four premium concert tickets for a Fifty Something Tour show.” — Carrie & Olivia Peart

As part of her prize package, Celeste will receive a year of private instruction from Rob Silverman, Modern Drummer Director of Worldwide Education, an All-Access Modern Drummer subscription, and exclusive UMe Rush box sets. CEO David Frangioni calls the scholarship an active investment in the future of the percussive arts, serving as a platform to elevate musicians who honor Peart’s legacy of curiosity, creative spirit, and technical excellence.

The scholarship curriculum focuses heavily on developing a drummer’s personal voice, polyrhythmic stability, and syncopated phrasing—mirroring Peart’s analytical framework to musical arrangement. Having seen firsthand how the Spirit of Drumming scholarship inspires recipients and changes their lives, Silverman and the team look forward to witnessing the positive impact this milestone will have on Celeste Fox’s drumming journey.