Ginger Zyskowski has been director of Professional Drum School in Hutchinson, Kansas, for over 30 years. The Drum School has a roster of 60+ students ranging in age from 7 through adult and from a radius of 150 miles covering the central Kansas area. Ginger has been pit percussionist with Music Theater of Wichita for 20 years, and is also a member of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and the Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony, Newton, KS. She is an adjunct instructor of percussion at Friends University in Wichita, KS.
Her Professional Drum School Percussion Ensemble has performed for numerous events including the Kansas State Fair, The Miss Hutchinson Pageant, PAS Kansas Day of Percussion (4 years) and has been invited to perform with the Kansas State University Percussion Ensemble during the 2006-2007,and 2011-2012 school year. This ensemble is a group of 12 students, ages 12 – 18, and consists of students from 6 different school districts in the central Kansas area.
One of Ginger’s favorite projects is “Stickpeople” – a production written and directed by her featuring the majority of her private students in a performance bringing 50+ students together and performing on 50+ drumsets together. The production has brought rave reviews and is a ‘one-of-a-kind’ show. Stickpeople is a favorite production of the students as well, and serves as a great incentive for students who otherwise might not have many playing opportunities available to them. In addition, the production crew is made up of volunteer students and parents who have found this to be a great educational and fun experience. These productions have brought in as many as 1500 people.
Ginger Z Performer
Currently, Ginger performs solo recitals, master classes, workshops, and reception music for social occasions. During 2004 she was a touring performer with Academic Entertainment, Inc. performing “Drums Around the World” for school assemblies in 8 states in the Midwest.
Ginger has performed with Ella Fitzgerald, Rich Little, Jack Benny, The Mills Brothers, Milt Jackson, Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Art Garfunkle, Mannheim Steamroller, and the National Touring Company of Jesus Christ Superstar-25th Anniversary Tour. She has performed in Europe, Canada, and extensively in the United States. She has also performed as principal percussionist with the Spokane Symphony and Chamber orchestras, Toledo Symphony, Seattle Opera Orchestra, and has served on the faculty at National Music Camp (Interlochen Center for the Arts).
Ginger Z Educator / Clinician
Ginger served on the first Pro Mark Educational Advisory Board helping with the creation of the ‘Future Pro’ drumstick design. She has served on the Percussive Arts Society International Convention Keyboard Panel, Education Panel, and Adjudication Panel for PASIC Composition Contest. She has performed a ‘Vibraphone Fundamentals’ clinic for the PAS Kansas Day of Percussion at University of Kansas, April – 2006. Currently, Ginger is the Chapter President of PAS in Kansas.
In July, 2005, she traveled to the International Percussion Symposium III at the Escuela Nacional de Musica of the University of Mexico in Mexico City where she presented marimba /vibraphone clinic and a ‘Percussion in the Pit” clinic with co-percussionist, Steve Hatfield, also from Wichita, Kansas. Also, in 2011, Ginger was a guest clinician at the Total Percussion Camp at Washburn University.
She was also a guest artist at the University of Arizona in Tucson in November of 2006, where she performed with a former percussion student on his graduate recital and also presented a session for the music students on the topic of ‘The Private Studio – How to Make it Work.” She has produced a book about her teaching methods and philosophies titled “GZ’s MO” or Ginger Z’s Modus Operandi”.
Ginger was also the percussion instructor for USD 313, Buhler, KS from 2008 through 2011. During this time she taught percussion in grades 5 through 12, led the high school percussion ensemble, and directed the high school drumline.
Ginger is a graduate of The University of Michigan with a B.M. and M.M. in music education having studied with James Salmon and playing in the Symphony Band under the direction of Dr. Wm. D. Revelli. Previous education includes graduation from The Interlochen Arts Academy, Interlochen, Michigan where she studied with Jack McKenzie.
Ginger Z Composer
Ginger is a published composer with C Alan Publications and Marimba Productions, Inc. (formerly Studio 4 Publications).
