The Black Rose Acoustic Society (BRAS) encourages music education. Yes, we do! Every year we award scholarships for music lessons to deserving youth and adults in our area. What do you have to do to be 'deserving?' Well, you must apply and let us know how you plan to use the award to further your music education. BRAS scholarships are not need-based. They are interest-based. If you are interested in learning you have an equal chance to receive the award along with other applicants.
It is our great pleasure to award five BRAS music scholarships in 2011. They go to Caleb Patterson (youth), Kaiden Petersen (youth), Karol McLean (adult), Merilyn Fooshee (adult) and Anna Patterson (youth).
Caleb will study Mountain Lap Dulcimer. He plays piano, fiddle and harmonica and is looking forward to learning the new instrument. He thinks the discipline he needs to play well will benefit him a great deal. Caleb's goal is to expand his musical horizons with the new instrument and to play in a bluegrass band.
Kaiden has chosen to learn fiddle. He has already played violin for three years in the school orchestra. He has attended folk and bluegrass festivals with his family and especially likes the sound of the fiddle and its contribution to bluegrass music. Kaiden is anxious to meet kids his age in the bluegrass community as a result of learning fiddle.
Karol will study guitar. She wants to become more involved in BRAS. She has played clarinet for over thirty years, plays piano and guitar. Karol would like to improve her guitar skills and play with a group.
Merrilyn wants to build her confidence playing guitar. She has played in nursing homes and is largely self-taught in guitar by watching others. Now she wants instruction so she can have more confidence performing.
Anna plays piano and has already been playing guitar for four months. She will use the BRAS scholarship for more guitar lessons. She is anxious to expand her repertoire of guitar music. Looks like she is well on her way, doesn't it?
This year you will have an opportunity to participate directly in the scholarship funding. In 2012 there is a place on your membership renewal to donate to the scholarship fund. Information about the donation procedure is found elsewhere in this newsletter.
We thank all of those who applied for scholarships. We enjoyed reading your stories and support your aspirations to keep learning. With your help roots music will continue to be alive and well in the Pikes Peak Region.
Happy pickin'!
The BRAS Scholarship Committee consists of Steve Schwartz, Lee Patterson and Phyllis Stark
