Mike Compton has been named camp and curriculum director for the fourth annual Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp on Sept. 11-13, hosted by the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, Ky.

“The goal in hosting this camp is to preserve the unique, historic performance art of Bill Monroe, ‘The Father of Bluegrass,’ by teaching his style of mandolin playing and songwriting to a new generation of players,” said Gabrielle Gray of the museum.

The 2009 curriculum has been revised by Compton, one of the world’s pre-eminent mandolin teachers. The new classes will reflect his experience after three years at the Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp and ongoing conversations with campers and faculty. He will lead the 2009 faculty in presenting new classes and workshops related to the development and execution of Monroe’s mandolin style, songwriting and musical influences.

Dr. Richard Brown will serve as associated director of the camp. Special guests will include Bill Monroe historian, author and performer Tom Ewing and luthier Will Kimble. Faculty members will include Skip Gorman, Tim O’Brien, Jody Stecher and Butch Waller.

The following is the museum’s announcement of the camp, complete with details about registration: At the Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp, you will spend three days with six of the finest mandolin players and 50 of the coolest mandolin campers on Planet Earth.

With registration capped at 50, the camp’s intimate environment allows for ample opportunities to receive personal, hands-on instruction from each of these legends of Monroe-Style mandolin.

New to this year’s camp on Friday is an All-Night Pickin’ Party and Bluegrass Invitational, which will bring local and regional musicians together with campers for a non-stop jam session and barbeque feast.

New to this year’s camp on Saturday between 4:30 and 5 p.m. will be six, 30-minute private master classes, one with each member of the faculty. All campers’ names will be put in Red Smiley’s hat. Six names will be drawn at the opening session Friday at noon. (If your name is drawn and you don’t want or need this master class, we can either redraw or you can give it to a friend.)

Returning in 2009 is a class on Mandolin Set Up and Maintenance by Kimble of Kimble Mandolins. Will is available Friday and Saturday for basic set ups and fret work. He will charge for materials and a reasonable fee for each work order. Please request a WORK ORDER FORM from Brenda Smith at the museum: (270) 926-7891. Your mandolin will get an “appointment” based on the estimated time required to perform the requested service.

The 2009 All-Star Faculty Concert will be amazing. Each member of the faculty is an internationally known performer with his own band. Tom Ewing, Monroe’s last guitarist with the Blue Grass Boys, adds vintage authenticity and historic relevance as well as great vocals and rhythm guitar. Campers are invited to an exclusive wine reception at the museum prior to the concert.

The camp package will include:

• Intensive group lessons in Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels. Choose one level or migrate throughout the weekend.
• An all-night Pickin’ Party and Bluegrass Invitational with a feast from Moonlite. Learn why they call this part of Kentucky “The Bluegrass and Barbeque Region”.
• Lunch on Saturday and Sunday at the museum.
• Lodging Friday and Saturday the Hampton Inn. Continental breakfast included.
• A reserved seat at the All-Star Faculty Concert featuring all instructors plus Tom Ewing. It’s open to
• the public but campers get the closest seats.
• A group photo and a bootleg tape/CD trading session.
• Free admission to the museum on Thursday and Monday, before and after camp.
• An International Bluegrass Music Museum instrument case decal.
• The special edition t-shirt and poster (they rock this year).

Join us Saturday evening, Sept. 12th (the eve of what would have been Bill’s 98th birthday) for our All-Star Faculty Concert at Woodward’s Cafe, across the foyer from the museum’s entrance. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Showtime is 7:30. The concert is open to the public and features all six instructors plus Ewing, editor of The Bill Monroe Reader. Tickets are $20 (included with campers’ tuition), available in advance or at the door. After campers are seated, only 50 seats remain, so reserve your ticket(s) early by calling the museum: 270-926-7891.

Tuition to the camp is non-refundable.

Details are available on the camp Web site: http://www.bluegrass-museum.org/Mandolin%20Camp/Monroe_Camp.html