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Ginger Zyskowski – bio
Ginger Zyskowski has been director of Professional Drum School in
Hutchinson, Kansas, for over 25 years. The Drum School has a roster
of 80+ 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 15 years,
and is also a member of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and the
Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony, Newton, KS. She is instructor of
percussion at Hutchinson Community College, Hutchinson, KS, and
instructor of percussion lessons, ensemble, and methods at Sterling
College, Sterling, 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 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, and have had sponsorship with Pro Mark, Inc,
and the local Johnson Music Center store.
Currently, Ginger performs solo recitals, master classes, workshops,
and reception music for social occasions. She is a published
composer with C Alan Publications and Marimba Productions, Inc.
(formerly Studio 4 Publications), and is an Educational Endorser for
Pro Mark, Inc. Ginger served on the first Pro Mark Educational
Advisory Board helping with the creation of the ‘Future Pro’
drumstick design. Her Vibraphone/Flute duo, “Something Silver,”
plays for social occasions, and she is a member of the New Era Brass
& Percussion Ensemble playing for Sunday morning church services. 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. 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. 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, and will be a guest artist at the University of
Arizona in Tucson in November of 2006. There she will perform with a
former percussion student on his graduate recital and also present 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 has performed with Ella Fitzgerald, Rich Little, Jack Benny,
The Mills Brothers, Milt Jackson, Placido Domingo, Luciano
Pavarotti, Art Garfunkle, 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 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.
Contact information:
Ginger Zyskowski
POB 3254
Hutchinson, KS 67504-3254
620-663-4004
www.gingerz.biz
ginger@gingerz.biz
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