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Local Fiddlers Convention launches youth music scholarship; organizers seek school partnerships
Summary
Organizers of the annual Fiddlers Convention told the board they created a youth music scholarship funded by a donated handcrafted guitar and plan to award it at the convention's youth competition in June; they requested district help connecting with music teachers and student ensembles.
Organizers of the local Fiddlers Convention asked the school board to help connect young musicians with the festival and announced a new youth music scholarship funded by proceeds from a donated handcrafted guitar.
Miss Blakey (festival organizer) told the board the convention runs the third weekend in June and features instrument and band competitions, an "instrument petting zoo" and a youth competition on Saturday morning. Organizers ran an art contest and sell program ads to fund the event; this year a Hurley family luthier donated a high‑end handmade guitar and the proceeds from that raffle/promotion will fund a youth scholarship.
The scholarship application has been posted and will be awarded at the youth competition in June. The award is intended to cover music lessons, camp fees or an instrument; requirements include participation in the convention's youth competition. Organizers asked the district to help connect the festival to school music programs (elementary through high school) and noted local activity such as Glade Middle School's guitar club and other music teachers who can partner.
Board members and administration suggested specific school contacts and said they would help connect organizers with teachers and extracurricular music programs. No board action or funding request was made; the presentation was a request for partnership and outreach assistance.
"If kids are free to come, youth feel free to come to it," the organizer said, noting the convention's low‑cost access and community benefits as a pathway to long‑term musical participation.
