Fletcher Bright Memorial Grant for Young Musicians will be awarded in various amounts to cover expenses of lessons, educational materials, instrument rental or purchase, workshops and camps. Young bluegrass musicians at all levels may apply for assistance. Financial need will be considered but is not required to receive a Bright grant. Applications for Bright grants may be made starting April 1, 2022, and throughout the year at this link.

The grant honors Fletcher White Bright (1931-2017), a lifelong resident of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, who led a residential and commercial development company with offices in Chattanooga and Atlanta. One of the world’s great traditional old time and bluegrass fiddlers, Fletcher was a lover and supporter of all things bluegrass, and his vast repertoire of fiddle tunes is legendary.

 The Sally Ann Forrester College Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship awarded to a female bluegrass musician. Students may be majoring in any subject, including bluegrass music. The IBMA Foundation administers the scholarship, which is funded by an endowment at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Sally Ann Forrester played accordion and sang as a member of Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys from 1943-1946, thus becoming the first female professional bluegrass musician in history. The application deadline for the fall 2022 scholarship is June 1, 2022. Go here to apply.

The IBMA Bluegrass College Scholarship grants one $1,000 scholarship to a student who is studying bluegrass music or a related major on the college level. The next scholarship will be awarded for the fall 2022 semester, and the deadline to apply is June 1. Go here to download the application form. The IBMA Bluegrass College Scholarship is supported by a small endowment at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.  Contact us if you would like to support this worthy bluegrass cause! Photo above: The East Tennessee Bluegrass Pride Band (2019)

J. D. Crowe Banjo Scholarships will be awarded to individuals planning to study the banjo on the college level or play the banjo in a college-level bluegrass ensemble. Applicants must already demonstrate a high level of performance skills on the five-string banjo and plan to become involved in the bluegrass music industry on a professional level. Longtime friend and fellow Kentucky bluegrass musician Arthur Hancock III has made the initial $20,000 donation to create the fund and endow the scholarship for the benefit of banjo players for generations to come. Hancock’s son, Arthur Hancock IV, a member of the IBMA Foundation board of directors, was instrumental in creating the scholarship in Crowe’s memory.  The deadline to apply HERE is June 1.

The Rick Lang Music Songwriter Scholarship is a $2,500 award to a student majoring in a subject related to songwriting. Applicants must be IBMA members (www.ibma.org).  Rick Lang (above) is a GRAMMY-nominated writer who serves as the chair of the IBMA Songwriter Committee and volunteers with the IBMA Songwriter Mentor Program. This scholarship is supported by an endowment at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee which was initially funded by Rick and Wendy Lang. Contact us if you would like to help to support the future of bluegrass songwriting with a donation to this scholarship.  Go here to apply for the scholarship. Deadline: June 1, 2022.

The Arnold Shultz Fund supports initiatives to encourage participation by people of color in bluegrass music. Richard S. Brown and Neil V. Rosenberg co-chair the advisory committee for the fund named after the talented African American guitarist and fiddler who influenced the development of bluegrass music.