Ernie Gadzos Percussion Music Scholarship

Established in 2006 by Mr. Fred Gretsch, the Ernie Gadzos Percussion Music Scholarship honors the life of percussionist and Gretsch Music Company employee Ernie Gadzos. Gadzos was born in Ontario, Canada in 1922. He arrived in America through Detroit, Michigan in 1948 by himself. It was in America that Ernie earned his reputation of being a phenomenal drummer. He traveled for over thirty years with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Vaughn Monroe Orchestra, and other big bands of the day. By chance Gadzos and his family relocated in to Savannah, Georgia in 1986 where he joined the Gretsch Music Company as a percussion specialist, helping drummers and dealers select the perfect set. This scholarship is available to undergraduate students majoring in Music Percussion with a minimum 3.0 GPA.