Owensboro, Ky. — Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike will perform concerts in 21 Owensboro, Ky. area elementary schools during the month of January. The All-School Bluegrass Assemblies are a part of the International Bluegrass Music Museum’s Bluegrass in the School Program (BITS).

The January dates mark Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike’s second term as the featured artists for this presentation. They were the very first assembly program presenters in Owensboro in 2004 and their overwhelming popularity created a successful foundation for a program that is now in its seventh year of implementation.

“Our presentation is about 45 minutes and covers the basics about how and where bluegrass was formed.  Valerie is a former junior high music teacher and has a knack for putting together a program that keeps the students engaged ’til the last.” Becky Buller – Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike

The in-school concerts by national acts are a much-anticipated annual event in the Owensboro area, taking place as part of the Museum’s ongoing educational outreach efforts. School children, faculty and administrators, as well as parents who take in the concerts during the school day, often report back that they are the best programs they’ve ever seen in the schools.

“The students seemed to have a lot of fun and were really open-minded to learning about this uniquely American music,” Buller agrees. “I would encourage other bands to look for ways to reach out to students in their own communities with this kind of program. Who knows? They may catch the attention of a kid who will grow up to be one of the next icons of our music!”

The Museum’s Bluegrass in the School Program is designed to interest elementary-age schoolchildren in bluegrass music. If—after receiving an eight day, in-depth introduction to fiddle, guitar, mandolin and banjo in their classrooms—they want to learn to play bluegrass, they can then sign up for group lessons at the Museum, with instruments on loan as part of the Saturday Lessons Program.

After four years, 1,711 beginning and intermediate students of all ages have taken group music lessons in this one-of-a-kind, authentic and historic setting. There’s nothing else quite like learning to play bluegrass while surrounded by the actual clothing, posters, photographs and artifacts of Bill Monroe and other greats!

Sponsors of the Museum’s BITS program are the Michael E Horn Family Foundation, Lester E. Yeager Charitable Trust, Kentucky Arts Council and the John D’Addario Foundation for the Performing Arts. Participating school systems are Daviess County Public Schools, Owensboro Public Schools and Owensboro Catholic School System.

School Assembly schedule for Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike

Jan. 11

• 8:00 am Foust
• 10:00 am Newton Parrish
• 1:00 pm West Louisville

Jan 12

• 8:15 am Cravens
• 10:00 am Tamarack
• 1:00 pm Country Heights

Jan. 13

• 10:00 am Sutton
• 1:00 pm Meadowlands

Jan 14

• 8:15 Catholic K-3 Campus
• 10:00 am Catholic 4-6 Campus
• 1:00 pm Sorgho

Jan. 15

• 8:00 am Whitesville Elementary
• 1:00 pm East View

Jan. 19

• 8:00 am Mary Carrico Knottsville
• 10:00 am Saint Marys of the Woods Whitesville
• 1:00 pm Deer Park

Jan. 20

• 8:30 am Estes
• 1:00 pm Burns

Jan. 21

• 1:00 pm Southern Oaks

Jan. 22

• 9:30 am Audubon
• 1:00 pm Highland

Related Links

• Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike
• International Bluegrass Music Museum
• Becky Buller