WOB 2021 in Raleigh, a combined live and virtual event with COVID-19 restrictions to keep attendees safe, was definitely one for the books! Live attendance numbers were down, as expected (see prevous sentence), but enthusiasm was high for those who were able to gather in person in Raleigh. 

The IBMA Foundation hosted a booth in the Expo Hall Wednesday – Saturday, Sept. 30-Oct. 2, where we were able to visit with many of you. One of our board members who was unable to attend in person, Becky Buller, appeared on a Zoom laptop screen at the booth and visited with attendees virtually on Friday afternoon, Oct. 1. 

Nine bluegrass college programs and several student bands were a part of the Bluegrass College Program Info Session held Friday morning, Oct. 1, in the Raleigh Convention Center and livestreamed on the Foundation’s Facebook page. Thanks to board chair/Foundation president Fred Bartenstein, for emceeing. 

The new location for the Friday and Saturday night Bluegrass College Band Showcases attracted larger audiences than ever before, for the event. Talented student bands performed from East Tennessee State University, Berea College, Morehead State University (including foreign exchange students from Hungary), Clemson University, The University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Denison University from Ohio, Warren Wilson College from N Carolina; Colorado College, and Lawrence University in Wisconsin. 

See more photos from the booth and the college showcases on the IBMA Foundation Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Photo above: The Denison University Bluegrass Ensemble, directed by Adam Schlenker (on bass), from Granville, Ohio showcased Oct. 2 at IBMA’s Bluegrass LIVE festival in Raleigh, NC. Return to the Oct. 5, 2021 issue of The Cornerstone.