Beginning this fall, college scholarships will be available to bluegrass musicians, thanks to new programs from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA).
The IBMA Foundation has established the Sally Ann Forrester College Scholarships, in memory of the first female member of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. Four $1000 scholarships will be awarded to female bluegrass musicians heading to college for the 2020 fall semester.
The foundation has also launched a fundraising campaign for an IBMA College Scholarship to be awarded beginning in 2021. This scholarship will be awarded to a young man or woman studying bluegrass music at the college level or performing with a bluegrass ensemble. Students preparing for careers in bluegrass music or focusing on bluegrass music-related academic research will be urged to apply.
The IBMA Foundation is the philanthropic organization that supports programs and initiatives fostering the growth of bluegrass music. The Foundation helps donors create a legacy for future generations of musicians and fans by connecting resources to projects that focus on bluegrass music-related arts and culture, education, literary work, and historic preservation.
For information on the scholarships, go to the IBMA Foundation website. The deadline for applying for the Sally Ann Forrester Scholarship is June 1, 2020.
