Leadership Bluegrass, now in its ninth year with more than 180 alumni, is an intensive three-day program of advanced level, interactive learning experiences that invites participants to examine the challenges and opportunities facing our music along with related leadership issues.

Leadership Bluegrass will be hosted again this year at the BMI offices in Nashville, March 25-27, and will be facilitated by Fred Bartenstein. Please contact the IBMA office for information on future Leadership Bluegrass programs: (615) 256-3222, nancyc@ibma.org.

The International Bluegrass Music Association is pleased to announce the following participants in the 2008 class of Leadership Bluegrass:

• Serge Bernard; Diamond Productions PEI; Stratford, Prince Edward Island, Canada
• Ethan Burkhardt; Pinecastle Records; Columbus, N.C.
• Ron Cox; Avenue Bank; Nashville, Tenn.
• Katy Daley; WAMU’s Bluegrass Country; Washington, D.C.
• Debbie Durant; Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music, Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival; Landenberg, Penn.
• Arnie Fleischer; The Emelin Theatre; Mamaroneck, N.Y.
• Tim Graves; Tim Graves & Cherokee; Northport, Ala.
• Cindy Gray; The Nevada Bluegrass Project; Reno, Nev.
• Bill Hartley; Birthplace of Country Music Alliance; Bristol, Tenn.
• Richard Hurst; Ulster American Folk Park, EBMA; Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
• Carl Jackson; Colonel Rebel Music; Nashville, Tenn.
• Diane King, Music Business Mgt.; Franklin, Tenn.
• Katy E. Leonard; IBMA; Nashville, Tenn.
• Matt Lindsey; Matt Lindsey Music LLC; Nashville, Tenn.
• Michael W. Marceau; D.C. Bluegrass Union; Kensington, Md.
• Tim McFadden; Tim McFadden Management LLC; Brentwood, Tenn.
• Marty Raybon; Marty Raybon & Full Circle; Tuscumbia, Ala.
• Roger Ryan; CMA of Ireland; Cork, Ireland
• Roger H. Siminoff; Siminoff Banjo & Mandolin Parts; Arroyo Grande, Calif.
• Lorraine Short; Prime Tyme Solutions; Raleigh, N.C.
• Wayne Taylor; Raincoe Music; Crofton, Md.
• Dana Thorin; Breezy Ridge Instruments, John Pearse Strings; Scotts Valley, Calif.
• April Verch; April Verch Band, April Verch Music; Pembroke, Ontario, Canada
• Lucy Weberling; Festival Yoga/ Inner Smile Productions; Skiatook, Okla.
• Rebekah Weiler; Middle Tennessee State Univ.; Murfreesboro, Tenn. (student monitor)