Bluegrass Heritage Foundation

News

Bluegrass Heritage Foundation's Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program Presents More Instruments to Young People in Texas

May 2, 2010
Bluegrass Heritage Foundation President Alan Tompkins and board members Gerald Jones and Charlie Seraphin today presented an assortment of guitars, banjos, and mandolins to young people in north Texas through the Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program. “We are always excited that more young people will have the opportunity to play acoustic music," said Tompkins. "We're also pleased to report that we have now placed a total of 20 new and donated instruments under the program. We offer our sincere thanks to Pizza Hut and those who have donated to the Foundation so that these young people have the opportunity to experience the joy of music.” The Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program is generously supported by Pizza Hut, Inc. Learn more about the program by clicking here.

Bluegrass Heritage Foundation recognized by Texas Governor Rick Perry for its efforts to preserve bluegrass music in the Lone Star State

February 23, 2010
Texas Governor Rick Perry congratulated the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation on its efforts to preserve bluegrass music in Texas by issuing a written certificate of recognition to Foundation President Alan Tompkins. Governor Perry wrote that "music is a vital part of our culture that has enriched our great state's heritage, adding to the diversity and vibrancy that uniquely defines Texas. Bluegrass Heritage Foundation is doing a great deal to promote bluegrass music in Texas, and I'm sure it will continue to do so under your leadership. First Lady Anita Perry joins me in wishing you continued success." Tompkins accepted the certificate on behalf of the Foundation and said "I am proud that the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, board, and the true bluegrass fans here in Texas has been recognized by Governor and First Lady Anita Perry. We plan to keep the great bluegrass music going here in Texas for many years to come. Maybe the Governor and First Lady will grab a fiddle and guitar and join in with us one day!"

Bluegrass Heritage Foundation's Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program Presents Additional Instruments to Musical Heritage Center

October 3, 2009
Bluegrass Heritage Foundation President Alan Tompkins and Foundation board member Gerald Jones presented the Fiddle & Pick Musical Heritage Center of Middle Tennessee with an assortment of fiddles through the Foundation's Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program. “We love what the Center is doing to help kids learn to play acoustic music," said Tompkins. "We're thrilled to have the opportunity, with the generous support of Pizza Hut, to work with Fiddle & Pick to help these young people learn to play this incredible music.”

Both the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation and the Musical Heritage Center work to share the joy of traditional acoustic music, such as bluegrass, with the public. The Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program is generously supported by Pizza Hut, Inc. Learn more about the program by clicking here.

Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program Presents Fiddle and Mandolin to the Benedict Family of Dallas

September 26, 2009
Bluegrass Heritage Foundation President Alan Tompkins presented the Benedict family of Dallas, Texas, with a new fiddle and mandolin today under the Foundation's Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program. The girls are taking lessons and are very interested in learning to play bluegrass. Their father, Keith Benedict, is a native of eastern Tennessee, is a longtime fan of bluegrass music, and is excited that his girls want to learn to play the music. Foundation President Alan Tompkins commented that "we are thrilled that the girls have shown so much interest in the music, and I hope we all get to pick together sometime soon!" The Bluegrass Heritage Foundation Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program is generously supported by Pizza Hut, Inc. Learn more about the program by clicking here.

Bluegrass Heritage Foundation's Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program Presents Instruments to Fiddle & Pick Musical Heritage Center

June 19, 2009
Bluegrass Heritage Foundation President Alan Tompkins and former Foundation board member Cliff Fitch today presented Gretchen Priest-May and her husband, renowned guitarist Tim May, the co-founders of the Fiddle & Pick Musical Heritage Center of Middle Tennessee, with several instruments through the Foundation's Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program. “We were very impressed to learn about the Musical Heritage Center and the broad range of traditional music instructional programs offered there," said Tompkins. "The talent, dedication, and commitment of the artists and teachers involved with the Center is outstanding, and we are excited to have the chance, through the support of Pizza Hut, to help young people start their musical journey through life.”

The placement is a perfect partnership for both organizations, whose missions are both built on the goal of sharing and promoting traditional music, like bluegrass, to the masses. The Bluegrass Heritage Foundation is interested in receiving inquiries from young people in the Dallas/Fort Worth area who are interested in learning to play the mandolin, banjo, guitar, or other instruments traditionally used to create bluegrass music. The Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program is generously supported by Pizza Hut, Inc. Learn more about the program by clicking here.

Bluegrass Heritage Foundation's Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program Presents Banjo to Ryan McKillip

Ryan McKillip receiving banjo from Bluegrass Heritage Foundation Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program Ryan McKillip and Alan Tompkins talking banjo

June 4, 2009
Bluegrass Heritage Foundation President Alan Tompkins presented Ryan McKillip, age 14, of Carrollton, Texas, with a new banjo today under the Foundation's Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program. Ryan started playing guitar shortly before the 2008 Bluegrass Heritage Festival, and became very interested in playing more bluegrass after attending the Festival and its workshops. Ryan expressed his interest in learning to play banjo to his father, Ross McKillip, who approached the Foundation to find out more about the Play It Forward! program. Alan Tompkins commented that "we are pleased and excited to get this banjo into the hands of a young man who is so excited to play and learn more about bluegass music." The Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program is generously supported by Pizza Hut, Inc. Learn more about the program by clicking here.