A Global Legacy in Motion: Introducing This Year’s Gail Schultz International Fellowship Recipients
There are moments when the impact of a single life continues to ripple outward in meaningful, lasting ways. The Gail Schultz International Fellowship is one of those moments brought to life. Rooted in Gail’s deep belief in global connection, generosity, and shared experience, this fellowship continues to open doors for young performers from around the world.
Gail Schultz was known not only for her love of the activity, but for the way she brought people together. As a supporter, ambassador, and friend to the entire drum corps community, she carried a quiet kindness that left a lasting impression on countless individuals. Her commitment to global participation helped shape a vision that extended far beyond borders.
In that spirit, BD Performing Arts, in partnership with Gail’s family, established the Gail Schultz International Fellowship to help non-US citizens take part in a US-based junior drum and bugle corps. Through this opportunity, recipients are able to offset participation costs and pursue an experience that might otherwise feel out of reach. It is a reflection of Gail’s belief that music has the power to connect people across cultures and continents.
This year’s fellowship recipients represent that vision in a powerful way. Each brings a unique story, shaped by dedication, discipline, and a desire to grow through performance. They arrive not only with talent, but with curiosity and a willingness to learn from new environments, new people, and new perspectives. Their journeys remind us that the drum corps experience is not just about performance. It is about transformation.
Through BD Performing Arts’ One Music One World initiative, and with support from Drum Corps International and partner organizations across the globe, this fellowship continues to build meaningful pathways for international performers. The program is guided by a dedicated group of co-chairs, including Pete Emmons, Sheryl Miles, Pat Seidling, and Teresa Saunders, whose leadership helps ensure the fellowship remains both impactful and accessible.
For Gail’s family, this fellowship carries deep personal meaning. Her son, Steve Schultz, shared that he is profoundly moved to see this opportunity created in her name, noting that it represents a legacy that would have meant so much to her. That legacy is now visible in every recipient who steps forward, ready to embrace the experience.
As these young artists begin their journey, they do so with the support of a community that believes in their potential. They also carry something just as important forward: the spirit of generosity, connection, and global understanding that defined Gail’s life.
This is more than a scholarship. It is an invitation to grow, to connect, and to become part of something larger than oneself. And through each recipient, Gail Schultz’s legacy continues to travel the world.