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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Neil Peart Drum Set Scholarship
The Neil Peart Drum Set Scholarship is open to all active PAS Members and will provide individuals with the opportunity to take a few lessons with a drummer of their choice either via online or in person. Up to four scholarships in the amount of $500 will be awarded.
Neil Peart was the drummer and lyricist for the legendary classic rock band Rush. Over the course of 18 studio albums and several live albums spanning 4 decades, Rush sold over 25 million records in the US alone, was awarded 14 platinum albums, was nominated for 7 Grammy awards, and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Peart was one of the most admired and imitated drummers in the history of the drumset, appearing on the cover of Modern Drummer magazine 9 times (more than any other artist). The most influential endorser of his time, Neil inspired a legion of drummers, and generated the sales of thousands of drumsets and cymbals, continuing to this day with the Paragon line of cymbals he designed for Sabian. Also active in education, Neil produced 3 educational DVDs with Hudson Music founder Rob Wallis, including the definitive book and DVD career retrospective Taking Center Stage.
The Neil Peart Drumset scholarship is set up for private online study, allowing the student access to an instructor they might not normally be able to study with
Jim Chapin Memorial Teacher Scholarship
The Jim Chapin Memorial Teacher Scholarship will be awarded in the amount of $1,000 annually, and is open to instructors that want to improve their teaching programs.
Jim Chapin began drumming in the spring of 1937 at the age of 18 years old. At the recommendation of several people, including Gene Krupa, Chapin went on to study with Sanford Moeller. By 1939, Chapin was playing opposite of Krupa at the World's Fair in New York. Chapin toured with a variety of bands from the 1940's through the 1960's including Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra.
Chapin began working on his widely known method book Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Vol. I in the early 1940's, and the book was published in 1948. It was common to see Chapin carrying around a pair of sticks and a practice pad, as he was frequently challenged to prove that the content of his book could actually be played. In 1971 Chapin was able to publish Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Vol. II, which gives the reader the ability to create seemingly endless patterns through the use of removable pages that can be placed on top of other pages.
Chapin was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 1995.
PASIC Scholarships
The PASIC Scholarships have been established by Companies, in Honor of Individual, and by PAS Chapters who recognize the value of PAS and PASIC. We thank each and every person who has played a role in the creation of these scholarship funds and applaud the shared goal of assisting individuals in attending PASIC at little or no cost.
Applications for the PASIC Scholarships open every May and close at the end of July.
Scholarship winners will receive:
Corporate PASIC Scholarships
Individual PASIC Scholarships
Chapter PASIC Scholarships
California Chapter - Remo
Texas Chapter - Mapex/Majestic (2)
Texas Chapter - Mario Luna
PASIC International Scholarship
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.
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.
The Zildjian Family Opportunity Fund
The Zildjian Family Opportunity Fund is a permanently endowed trust managed and administered by the Percussive Arts Society. The purpose of the Zildjian Family Opportunity Fund is to provide funding for community based percussion programs in underrepresented neighborhoods. Utilizing the diverse group of PAS educators and performers, these programs will be presented at no charge to participants in accessible locations such as schools, community centers, parks, senior living facilities, or libraries.
Applications will be accepted from current PAS members only. Awards will be granted based on artistic and educational quality, content of presentation, and the demonstrated ability of the presenter to carry out the proposal as submitted. Multiple proposals will be accepted for requested awards ranging from $100–$500.
The Zildjian Family Opportunity Fund application will be available at a later date. If you have specific questions about the Zildjian Family Opportunity Fund, please contact Joshua Simonds, PAS Executive Director, at
jsimonds@pas.org.