31 STUDENT APPLICANTS ARE THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE 2024 MIKE CLARK SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
Oklahoma’ s International Bluegrass Festival is pleased to announce the winners of the Mike Clark Memorial Music Scholarships for 2024:
Scholarship Awards
MIKE CLARK SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO YOUNG MUSICIANS
31 STUDENT APPLICANTS ARE THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE 2024 MIKE CLARK SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
I t’ s a competitive process as OIBF seeks to not only gift the student, but also the world of bluegrass. The awards are made available to qualifying individuals who wish to increase their understanding of traditional acoustic instruments and bluegrass music styles. The money can be used to take extra classes, attend music camps or to access experts able to enhance their performance.
Several children of OIBF Volunteer Maris Russell have seen the benefits of the scholarship program.“ Byron started their journey,” said Russell. She said festival creator Byron Berline gave all former scholarship winners opportunities to play in his annual FiddleFest and in the OIBF youth tent.
Maris Russell’ s daughter, Sadie, says the scholarship program has been such a blessing through her years of music education.“ I was able to have a very broad range of experiences and exposure to quality music.”
Past scholarship winners are spreading bluegrass and giving back as adults, according to Russell. Past recipients Lauren Lee, Sadie Russell, Brandon Cheng, Jonathan Hunt, Andrew Hunt, Elizabeth Williamson, Grace Williamson and Samantha Williamson were instructors this summer at the Ozark Mountain Music Association Bluegrass Camp in Missouri. OMMA teachers instruct individual instrument lessons, group / band instruction, vocals and square dance.
Kaitlyn Means and her sister Kylee Jones of the family band Horn Family Bluegrass were both recipients of the scholarship program as teenagers.“ The lessons we got through the program propelled both of us musically as adults,” said Means.
The scholarship fund is for students 16 years or younger who have an interest in honing their skills in the genres of bluegrass, folk music, western swing and traditional country. The scholarship is named for Mike Clark, banjo player, and one of the founding fathers of the festival. Details for applying can be found on the festival’ s website OIBF. com.
IBF
Oklahoma’ s International Bluegrass Festival is pleased to announce the winners of the Mike Clark Memorial Music Scholarships for 2024:
Josh Wills; Violet Roggow; Alice Jackson; Sidney Cantrell Maci Shelton; Jolie Marshall; Jedidiah Visser; Robert Jackson; Andrew Jones Ella Jones; Sam Schoonover; Madelynn M. McDermeit; Kylah Harris; Maria Tarpley Kyle Trujillo; Tristan Paskvan; Colt Spencer; Jessi Davis Sienna Yetter; McKenna Petersen; Miguel Guajardo; Carlyn Broadnax Carly McMannis; Ellie McMannis; James Kimler; Jacob Kimler; Isabella Kimler Izzie Arnold; Stella Arnold; Rex Neff; Maya Malone
24 / OKLAHOMA’ S INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL 2025