Ginger Sue Hulet Zyskowski

1946-2026

Ginger Sue Hulet Zyskowski, a visionary percussionist, beloved educator, multidisciplinary artist, and courageous author, passed away peacefully on June 30, 2026. A woman of unmatched rhythm and deep resilience, Ginger’s life was a grand symphony that spanned national television screens, elite symphonic concert halls, and the hearts of generations of students and readers.

A Prodigy’s Rise: From Hutchinson, KS to the National Stage

Born in Hutchinson, Kansas, Ginger’s extraordinary musical gifts were evident almost as soon as she could walk. Her career started at 2 years of age tap dancing. Performing under her maiden name, Ginger Hulet, she quickly became a celebrated national child prodigy.

Her immense talent caught the eye of the nation's top entertainment scouts. In the mid-1950s, she auditioned for and was offered a coveted spot in the original cast of Walt Disney's The Mickey Mouse Club. Choosing to preserve her childhood and her independent musical path, her family turned down the Hollywood contract to remain in Kansas. Armed with an array of specialty handbells and percussion instruments, she toured the country as a young soloist, famously performing for crowds as large as 15,000 people at national conventions and state fairs.

Her childhood stardom reached its peak on April 22, 1957, when she performed as a featured guest artist on ABC’s The Lawrence Welk Show, cementing her status as one of the Midwest's brightest young stars.

Life changed significantly when Ginger was selected to attend a prestigious music summer camp in Interlochen, MI. She continued to attend Interlochen in the summers, but when Interlochen became a full-time Academy for the Arts high school, she transferred there where she continued advance studies on all of the percussive arts instruments.

In between semesters at Interlochen, Ginger again made local history when she competed in the 1964 Miss Kansas pageant, proudly representing her hometown as a finalist by winning the talent contest and eventually filling in as the official Miss Kansas. Ginger’s childhood success was just the overture to a rigorous and elite classical career.

A Lifelong Legacy in Percussion and Education

Following her graduation from Interlochen, Ginger was awarded a music scholarship to attend the School of Music at The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Michigan. She broke historic precedent by becoming the first female percussionist to win a spot in the top Symphonic Band at The University of Michigan under the direction of the infamous conductor, Dr. William D. Revelli. Throughout her time at UM she developed into a masterful orchestral percussionist.

Ginger was then asked to become Percussion Instructor at Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington as well as Principal Percussionist with The Spokane Symphony Orchestra. She married, had a family and then experienced life changes and trauma that took her in new directions.

She eventually returned to her roots in Hutchinson, Kansas, where she became the foundational backbone of the regional music community for over 35 years. She created a percussion studio, Professional Drum School, hosted an annual “Stick People” concert attracting hundreds of students, while continuing to compose published works for marimba and vibraphone.

Ginger also performed with many Broadway shows, opera companies, and symphony orchestras in both Hutchinson and Wichita and was President of the Kansas Percussive Arts Society. Ginger performed for the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and Music Theatre Wichita, and accompanied legendary artists ranging from operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti to the symphonic rock group Mannheim Steamroller. She was good friends with the drummer from David Lee Roth’s band, Gregg Bissonette, and routinely bumped shoulders with the greats of the industry.

As the founder and director of the Professional Drum School, Ginger poured her soul into education. She mentored hundreds of young drummers and percussionists, passing down not just technical mastery, but a profound, lifelong love for music. She was also a vital voice in modern musical networks, including the Music that Makes Community organization.

A Canvas of Words and Art: Her Ultimate Creative Chapters

In her later years, Ginger expanded her stellar legacy by embracing new mediums as an artist and author. She showcased her vibrant paintings and unique textile work across many different venues, beautifully combining natural materials with paint and yarn to express her endless creativity.

Her gift for language shone brightlythroughher poetry. She published two separate poetry chapbooks, Love and Lovers and Another Think Coming, demonstrating her deep emotional awareness and a rare ability to share profound truths in amazingly simple ways. Her illustrated book, In A Word, was met with broad acclaim by adults and children alike. Ginger remained vibrant and active in her creative community until her passing, constantly writing and sharing her work at Everett Poetry Night, earning a selection for the highly competitive “Out On A Limb” poetry contest, and leaving behind a treasure trove of unpublished works.

Stepping forward with immense courage, she also penned her intimate memoir, Shattered. The book detailed her harrowing, real-life survival of a 1978 kidnapping and involuntary deprogramming ring. Through her writing, Ginger transformed a private trauma into a public beacon of strength, showcasing the same fierce independence and resilience that defined her entire life.

Even toward the final stages of her life, with too many doctors to count looking over her, Ginger's unwavering spirit and passion for giving could not be dimmed; she continued to write and perform music wherever she was—including the emergency room!

Ginger’s life was defined by the choices she made: choosing the concert hall over Hollywood, community over fame, and truth over silence. Her rhythm lives on in the family she cherished, the students she inspired, and the music that will forever echo through all those she touched.

Ginger is survived by her 3 sons (Michael Kyle Zyskowski & wife Gina Jamison, Everett, WA; Andrew Martin Zyskowski & wife Serena Zyskowski, Poulsbo, WA; Jamie Alexander Zyskowski, Everett, WA), 6 grandchildren (Mickey Zyskowski - Mike and Gina; Jack Zyskowski - Andrew and Serena; Lillian Zyskowski, Scarlet Zyskowski, Thomas Zyskowski and Juniper Zyskowski - Jamie), 3 step-grandchildren (Whitney Mueller, Sarah Woods, Katie Mueller - Mike and Gina) and 3 great-grandchildren (Ryan Derek Woods, Ember Douglas Woods - Sarah; Mateo Agular - Whitney).

She is preceded in death by her parents Frank and Virginia Hulet (Hutchinson, KS) and her brother Kyle Hulet (Hutchinson, KS).

♫Celebration of Life Services♫

♫ Family Visitation: Friday, October 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Elliott Mortuary (1219 N Main St, Hutchinson, KS). 

♫ Celebration of Life: Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Elliott Mortuary (1219 N Main St, Hutchinson, KS) 

♫  Reception:  A gathering for family and friends will be held shortly after the ceremony at 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM at the Anchor Inn (128 S Main St, Hutchinson, KS). Please RSVP on the "everloved" link below so we can let the Anchor know in advance how many plan to attend.  

Ginger suggested memorials to be considered for the Interlochen Center for the Arts or the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA), in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

Visit https://everloved.com/life-of/ginger-zyskowski/