PAS is proud to award nearly $60,000 annually in scholarships and grants in support of our mission to inspire, educate, and support percussionists and drummers throughout the world. Recipients are given unique opportunities to advance their percussion careers; whether through financial assistance in collegiate study, or a once-in-a-lifetime experience by attending the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC). Through a partnership with Zildjian Company, PAS also provides funding for percussion-based presentations directed for underserved youth, ages pre-school through high school.
PAS Scholarships - 2019 Applications Deadline: 4/29/19
Freddie Gruber Scholarship
This annual scholarship, in memory of Buddy Rich and Nick Ceroli, will be in the amount of $2,500 awarded to a college or university student for drum set performance.
Freddie Gruber began his drumming career in New York in the late 1940s. He played in the only big band to feature bebop sax innovator Charlie Parker, and he became close friends with Buddy Rich, a relationship that continued until Buddy’s passing in 1987. In the early ’60s Gruber played his way through Chicago and Las Vegas, eventually arriving in Los Angeles, where he became a key player in that city’s jazz scene. But Gruber soon discovered his true calling—teaching others how to play drums. Over the next forty years, Freddie’s students included a cross-section of drummers whose playing profoundly influenced the music of the times, among them John Guerin, Ian Wallace, Steve Smith, Dave Weckl, Mike Baird, Johnny “Vatos” Hernandez, David Bronson, Peter Erskine, Burleigh Drummond, and Neil Peart. One early student, Don Lombardi, founded the Drum Workshop company. Freddie had an unparalleled understanding of the physical “dance” involved in playing the instrument—the ergonomic relationship of the drummer to the drums. Without ever trying to disrupt a particular drummer’s “character,” he helped each student discover, express, and refine his own voice.
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John E. Grimes Timpani Scholarship
This $1,000 scholarship is open to timpani students (ages 18–26) interested in pursuing the study of period timpani playing. Scholarship may be applied to lessons, travel to study, etc., as long as the focus is baroque/classical period timpani playing.
John Grimes, former Vice President of the Boston Musicians’ Association for over a decade, was an advocate for musicians’ intellectual property, economic rights, and social justice. As a Professor at Boston Conservatory he was one of the world’s expert early music timpanists, performing regularly with the Boston Baroque and Handel & Haydn Society Orchestras. He also performed with Boston Ballet, Boston Lyric Opera, Cantata Singers, and other Boston-based organizations.
In December of 2012 John received a Certificate of Recognition from the United States Senate stating that he was “A guiding light for musicians in the labor movement in New England…a champion for all musicians, working tirelessly as an advocate for students, immigrants, and thosein need.” John earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Miami, a Master of Music from the New England Conservatory. He also pursued doctoral studies at the University of California, San Diego.
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Armand Zildjian Percussion Scholarship
As a charter member of the Percussive Arts Society and a 16-year Trustee of Berklee College, Armand Zildjian sought to create more learning opportunities for today’s musicians in both contemporary and classical music. The PAS Armand Zildjian Percussion Scholarship is one step in fulfilling that quest. This annual $2,000 scholarship will be awarded to a full-time student percussionist enrolled in an accredited college or university school of music.
Armand Zildjian’s introduction into the world of music came at a very early age. Born into the Zildjian family with a 350-year-old tradition of cymbal craftsmanship, it was always understood that Armand would follow his father Avedis into the family business. For Armand, it was an honor to match cymbals for the great symphonies and to collaborate with the greatest drummers of the day to develop the new cymbal sounds musicians were looking for. In receiving his honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of Music in 1988, Armand told the Berklee students how very fortunate they were to have the opportunity to study contemporary music. “In my day”, said Armand, “the classroom was primarily the nightclubs where all the great musicians learned from each other.” As a charter member of the Percussive Arts Society and a 16 year Trustee of Berklee College, Armand sought to create more learning opportunities for today’s musicians both in contemporary and classical music. The PAS Armand Zildjian Percussion Scholarship is one step in fulfilling that quest.
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Fred Hoey Memorial Scholarship
Fred Hoey had an illustrious career in the field of music as an author, clinician, and percussion industry innovator. He was a charter member of the Percussive Arts Society and an educator whose influence on percussionists continues with the PAS Fred Hoey Memorial Scholarship. This annual $1,000 scholarship is awarded to an incoming college freshman percussionist enrolled in the School of Music at an accredited college or university.
Fred Hoey’s start in the music industry came at an early age upon winning the 1936 National Rudimental Drummer Competition. His illustrious career in the field of music as an author, clinician, and authority in the world of percussion afforded him many opportunities. In the mid 70s, Fred Hoey launched the CB 700 line of drums and percussion. This unique line was designed by Hoey to service the educational percussion market in a comprehensive way. As Vice President of Sales for C. Bruno in the early 1980s, Hoey created the Gibraltar brand name of drum hardware and initiated its first designs. The mid 80s brought Hoey to oversee the Remo, Inc. San Antonio Distribution Center where he participated in product design, development, and sales direction. Throughout his career, Fred Hoey remained active as a prominent Southwestern performing percussionist. He also wrote several drum methods still in distribution by Mel Bay Publications. He was a charter member of the Percussive Arts Society and an educator whose influence on percussionists continues with the PAS Fred Hoey Memorial Scholarship.
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Larrie Londin Memorial Scholarship
The late Larrie Londin was one of the world’s leading studio drummers. A musician with an adventurous musical spirit, he was a man who liked to share with others. That sharing continues through the PAS/Sabian Larrie Londin Memorial Scholarship. Created to support promising young drummers with their drumset studies, a total of $1,500 is awarded annually.
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Terry Gibbs Vibraphone Scholarship
Terry Gibbs is a Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame member with 65 albums to his credit, winner of three major jazz polls and creator of over 300 compositions. This scholarship is in honor of the indelible impression that Gibbs left on the world of vibes. One $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to any full time vibraphone student registered in an accredited college or university school of music.
Legendary vibraphonist Terry Gibbs began his career at the age of 12 after winning the Major Bowes Amateur Hour Contest and subsequently began touring professionally. He performed for many years as a drummer and percussionist until his affinity for bebop motivated him to return to the vibes and subsequently become recognized as one of the best ever to grace the genre of bop. After World War II, Gibbs toured with Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Louie Bellson, Benny Goodman and formed his own band for the Mel Torme television show. Gibbs led his own bands in the 50’s and in 1957 formed the critically acclaimed big band “The Dream Band”. Throughout his career he has enjoyed world acclaim playing with jazz luminaries, Buddy DeFranco, Charlie Parker, Dizzie Gillespie, Horace Silver, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Elvin Jones and Tito Puente. Terry Gibbs is a Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame member with 65 albums to his credit, winner of three major jazz polls and creator of over 300 compositions. This scholarship is in honor of the indelible mark Gibbs has left on the world of vibes.
*By participating in this Scholarship, Sponsor and all entrants release and hold harmless Yamaha Corporation of America and its parent company from any and all liability or claims arising out of the Scholarship.
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PASIC International Scholarship - 2019 Application Deadline: 4/29/19
PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention) occurs yearly in the United States and attracts more than 5,000 drummers, percussionists, industry displays and professionals and enthusiasts from around the world for 4 days of action packed concerts and workshops. One of the most important parts of the event is meeting people face to face. PASIC is an opportunity to meet your musical heroes, to see them on the elevator and ask for an autograph and a photo; but it’s also the chance for young people to assert themselves as professionals and begin to form relationships that will shape their future. The PASIC International Scholarship is given to one or two recipients from outside of the United States to attend PASIC.
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PASIC Scholarships - 2019 PASIC Scholarships Open in May
Several scholarships assisting students to attend PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention). Scholarship winners will receive:
Individual PASIC registration
PASIC Souvenir T-shirt – $500 award for travel/lodging/food assistance
Chapter PASIC scholarships are currently available in California, Texas and Canada.
PAS also awards International PASIC scholarships, specifically for students from outside the US. Additional scholarships may be available. Contact your chapter for additional information.
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SABIAN/PASIC Scholarship
Sabian Ltd. works in conjunction with PAS to offer a PASIC scholarship to residents of Canada. To be eligible, an applicant must be a Canadian, full-time university undergraduate (Percussion Major). The scholarship recipient will receive transportation to the convention city, four nights hotel accommodation, PASIC Registration, PASIC souvenir T-Shirt and, a one year PAS Membership. Scholarship will not exceed $1,500 CDN.
Remo/Arthur Hull PASIC Scholarship
This annual scholarship for experienced rhythm facilitators is meant to defray the costs of attending PASIC for the purposes of expanding their involvement in the Percussive Arts Society in general, and contributing their expertise to the general body of knowledge for the benefit of PAS members. Applicants must be well-trained, experienced facilitators, who use rhythm facilitation as a primary tool for their work, whether within their work in an institutional setting(education, healthcare, etc.), or as an independent professional.
