Bluegrass Academy AddedTo 2009 DelFest Schedule
After a spectacularly successful 2008 festival, the folks at McCoury Music and High
Sierra Music have added a bluegrass music academy to the program for DelFest 2009,
broadening and enriching the festival experience for all levels of musicians. The
first
DELFEST ACADEMY will take place May 18-21, 2009; DelFest 2009 follows directly,
on May 22-24.
The 2009 DELFEST ACADEMY will consist of a friendly, encouraging, and
intensive three-day learning experience with a group of some of the finest musicians in
bluegrass: mandolinist Ronnie McCoury,
banjo player Rob McCoury, fiddler Jason
Carter, and bassist Alan Bartram, the Steep Canyon Rangers, as well as Ronnie
Bowman.
As members of the Del McCoury Band, Rob, Ronnie, Alan and Jason have won IBMA’s
Entertainer of the Year award nine times. Oxford American called them “The best
Bluegrass band in the world. Period.” The Steep Canyon Rangers are great musicians in
their own right and have won the IBMA’s Emerging Artist of the Year Award. Ronnie
Bowman’s bluegrass and songwriting credentials would fill up a notebook from his stint
with the Lonesome River Band, leading his own band and writing two #1 country radio
hits. With sterling credentials as celebrated performers, plus years of experience teaching
at various workshops and festival academies such as Rockygrass and Wintergrass, these
enormously gifted musicians will create an environment for learning unlike any other.
The Academy will offer two levels of instruction: Level 1 (novice to intermediate)
and Level 2 (intermediate to advanced) for guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and bass. A
meet & greet for students and instructors will kick off the academic week. A Q&A
session with the Del McCoury Band and a wrap party on Thursday night will also take
place. Each student may bring a guest to all extracurricular “after-class” functions for a
nominal fee.
In intimate classes led these world-class bluegrass professionals, students will receive
instruction targeted to their individual needs, with plenty of opportunity for one-on-one
interaction with their instructors. The overall direction of each class will ultimately be
determined by the students’ goals and needs. Students may expect to learn how to lead
jams and receive tips on practicing, technique, and accompaniment, and benefit from
direct interaction with instructors who can help them achieve their musical objectives. If
there is enough interest, the Academy may also add some elective classes on singing and
songwriting.
DelFest 2009, set to kick off on May 22 (the day after DelFest Academy ends), offers a
fantastic lineup for its second event (watch for a complete line-up announcement on
February 7th. A celebration of the musical heritage of Del McCoury, DelFest is a familyfriendly
event and takes place at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, MD.
Personally chosen by Del, this site is nestled along the Potomac River in the scenic
After a spectacularly successful 2008 festival, the folks at McCoury Music and High
Sierra Music have added a bluegrass music academy to the program for DelFest 2009,
broadening and enriching the festival experience for all levels of musicians. The
firstDELFEST ACADEMY will take place May 18-21, 2009; DelFest 2009 follows directly,
on May 22-24.
The 2009 DELFEST ACADEMY will consist of a friendly, encouraging, and
intensive three-day learning experience with a group of some of the finest musicians in
bluegrass: mandolinist Ronnie McCoury,
banjo player Rob McCoury, fiddler JasonCarter, and bassist Alan Bartram, the Steep Canyon Rangers, as well as Ronnie
Bowman.
As members of the Del McCoury Band, Rob, Ronnie, Alan and Jason have won IBMA’s
Entertainer of the Year award nine times. Oxford American called them “The best
Bluegrass band in the world. Period.” The Steep Canyon Rangers are great musicians in
their own right and have won the IBMA’s Emerging Artist of the Year Award. Ronnie
Bowman’s bluegrass and songwriting credentials would fill up a notebook from his stint
with the Lonesome River Band, leading his own band and writing two #1 country radio
hits. With sterling credentials as celebrated performers, plus years of experience teaching
at various workshops and festival academies such as Rockygrass and Wintergrass, these
enormously gifted musicians will create an environment for learning unlike any other.
The Academy will offer two levels of instruction: Level 1 (novice to intermediate)
and Level 2 (intermediate to advanced) for guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and bass. A
meet & greet for students and instructors will kick off the academic week. A Q&A
session with the Del McCoury Band and a wrap party on Thursday night will also take
place. Each student may bring a guest to all extracurricular “after-class” functions for a
nominal fee.
In intimate classes led these world-class bluegrass professionals, students will receive
instruction targeted to their individual needs, with plenty of opportunity for one-on-one
interaction with their instructors. The overall direction of each class will ultimately be
determined by the students’ goals and needs. Students may expect to learn how to lead
jams and receive tips on practicing, technique, and accompaniment, and benefit from
direct interaction with instructors who can help them achieve their musical objectives. If
there is enough interest, the Academy may also add some elective classes on singing and
songwriting.
DelFest 2009, set to kick off on May 22 (the day after DelFest Academy ends), offers a
fantastic lineup for its second event (watch for a complete line-up announcement on
February 7th. A celebration of the musical heritage of Del McCoury, DelFest is a familyfriendly
event and takes place at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, MD.
Personally chosen by Del, this site is nestled along the Potomac River in the scenic
No comments:
Post a Comment