Gretsch Foundation Launches First-Year Musician Leadership Academy at UGA Summer Camp

The University of Georgia (UGA) has opened a week‑long, fully funded program called the Gretsch Musician Leadership Academy, part of its Summer Music Camps at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music in Athens, Georgia. The academy, funded by the Gretsch Foundation, the charitable arm of the Gretsch instrument company, aims to develop leadership skills in high‑school musicians from across the state.

Athens has long been a music hub, producing bands such as R.E.M. and the B‑52s. The city’s culture of collaboration and experimentation is reflected in the academy’s curriculum, which focuses on community impact, social‑emotional growth, self‑awareness, and civic engagement. Students attend daily workshops, masterclasses, and group projects that encourage them to work across genres and backgrounds.

The program covers the full cost of attendance for selected participants, including many from rural communities or schools with limited music resources. Dinah Gretsch, a member of the Gretsch family, said the investment is both practical and personal: “If companies like ours don’t invest back into music education, they’ll never have a customer in the future. But more importantly, if you invest in a young person, you’re giving them something they can grow and pass on to others.”

Students report rapid gains in leadership thinking. Brayson Jones of Monroe County said, “In just a few days, we’ve learned so much about what it really means to be a leader — not someone who stands above others, but someone who serves them.” Cassie Matthews of Oglethorpe County added, “We’re learning how to understand other people’s perspectives while also knowing our own worth—how we impact others and how they impact us.”

Riley Hano of Savannah praised the program’s structure: “I really like our teachers and the way they structure the program. They give us a foundation, but the discussions are open‑ended, and we work in different groups all the time. It doesn’t feel forced. You get to connect naturally.” The academy’s design, according to the UGA Summer Music Camp website, relies on open dialogue, collaboration, and reflection to build confidence.

Fred Gretsch, a UGA faculty member, said the goal is to create a musician leadership community across the Lowcountry of Georgia and South Carolina. “We want students to value their gift, to nurture it and then to share it and build a more musical community for everyone,” he said.

The Gretsch Foundation’s support extends beyond the academy. The family also sponsors the free “That Great Gretsch Sound!” museum in Savannah, where visitors can explore the company’s history. Dinah Gretsch noted that “a lot of children might never even consider playing music because they don’t have the opportunity. This program gives them that chance.”

The academy’s first cohort is part of the 2026 UGA Summer Music Camp, which runs from early June to early July. The program is designed to be immersive, with daily sessions that blend technical instruction with leadership development. The full scholarship covers travel, lodging, meals, and instrument rental.

The initiative reflects a broader trend of industry philanthropy aimed at expanding access to music education. By providing resources to students who might otherwise lack instruments or instruction, the Gretsch Foundation seeks to nurture future musicians and community leaders.

As the academy concludes, its impact will be measured by the ripple effects: more students discovering music, stronger community ties, and young leaders who carry the program’s lessons beyond the week. The Gretsch family hopes that the experience will inspire participants to form new bands, collaborate with peers, and continue to serve their communities through music.

In Athens, a city that has long fueled a distinctive music scene, the Gretsch Musician Leadership Academy represents a new chapter in the town’s legacy of fostering creative talent and leadership.