Wilkes Acoustic Folk Society Inc. awarded scholarships to three recipients for 2022. Katy Farrar is the winner of the Duncan Elliott Memorial Scholarship to the Swannanoa Gathering held at Warren Wilson College near Asheville, NC.
Covid 19 cancelled the 2021 gathering but Katy still participated in the online event. Katy will attend the Swannanoa Gathering in person this summer. Katy chose to attend Old Time Week July 17-23, 2022.
Ms. Farrar grew up in New Mexico. She attended Guilford College and Pacific University of Oregon. Katy has worked in clinical settings at the Veterans Medical Center in Salisbury. Katy always had a love for old time, claw hammer style banjo. She had heard of the great foothills area of Wilkes and surrounding counties and the preservation of traditional music. Katy moved to Wilkes and met an old time picker from Union Grove, called Banjo Bob Anderson. Banjo Bob became her mentor and told her about Wilkes Acoustic Folk Society. She became a member of WAFS about 5 years ago.
Ms. Farrar decided to apply for the Swannanoa scholarship and was encouraged by Banjo Bob to chase her dream. Katy said, “The only way I could become a better musician was to practice, practice, and practice. Bob and so many others helped me develop my pickin’ skills. I am honored to have been chosen for this scholarship to the Swannanoa Gathering.”
The Swannanoa Gathering is an internationally recognized heritage art program held each summer. Various traditional crafts from traditional instrument teachings, song catching, song writing, dance and many more crafts from the Blue Ridge/Appalachia area are taught. Attendees are from all walks of life and age groups range from the very young beginners to the well-seasoned professionals.
World Class Instructors such as Janis Ian, Shelia Kay Adams, Kirk Sutphin and Rodney Sutton facilitate the programs. Classroom instruction, open mic performances, slow jams and meals and lodging on campus for one week are included in the scholarship.
Two scholarships were awarded to Pete Wernick’s JamCamp at MerleFest 2022 in April. Both of these gatherings are held the week of MerleFest at the YMCA Camp Harrison in Boomer, NC.
The Gary Saunders Memorial Scholarship winner was Rebekah H. Myers (age 14) of Purlear, NC. The late Gary Saunders was a mentor to her and her father Bob, encouraging them to pursue music. She sings and plays guitar, mandolin and fiddle. Rebekah said, “I love music, I love playing music with my father. Gary was such an inspiration to me as he was to everyone. I am so pleased to have this opportunity to honor Gary through JamCamp. I believe this scholarship will better prepare me to perform in my community and anywhere I may play music.” Rebekah’s biggest influences are her dad, Larry Skipper and Gary.
The third scholarship is the WAFS Pete Wernick JamCamp at Merlefest. The winner of this scholarship was Bobby I. Myers of Purlear, NC. He loves singing Gospel music and also plays guitar. “I am honored to receive this scholarship. This will enable me to attend the JamCamp with Rebekah”. Bob is age sixty-one and a graduate of Slidell Baptist Seminary with a Masters of Divinity.
Pete and Joan Wernick travel worldwide providing some of the best hands on instruction in the music field. Also known as Dr. Banjo, Pete has been at MerleFest since 1999. Pete Wernick along with his wife Joan has a sixty year career in music. Pete always brings the best in the business to assist in instructing his jam camps.
Previous recipients of WAFS scholarships are: Melanie Podbielski, Trish Wylie, Laura Ferguson, Ethan Haithcock, John Palmer, James Wagoner, Shay Lovette, Revonda Crow, Abby Huggins, Hannah ‘Josie’ Hoggard, Mary Vann Johnston, Kathleen Nicole Burnett, Liam Purcell, Chad Ritchie, Elizabeth Carter, Asa Nelson, Bobby W. Fields. Jonah Horton, Willow Dillon, Benjamin Barker, Presley Barker, Elizabeth Carter, Hallie Younger, Emma Lowe, Madison Elmore, Libby Harbour, Robert Myers, Jake Myers and Owen Combs.
Wilkes Acoustic Folk Society is proud to have honored ten local musicians through a partnership with the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame/Wilkes Heritage Museum. Yearly, these musicians are recognized with the Dr. T.R. Bryan Music Award. Recipients of this award are: Dr. T.R. Bryan, Jr., Jimmy Church, Ward Eller, Keith Watts, Billy Gee, Larry Skipper, Bill Williams, Mike Palmer, Linda Cabe and Ernest Johnson. The induction ceremony is held yearly in Wilkesboro, NC at the Wilkes Heritage Museum. To get more information call Jennifer Furr, Director at 336.838.3171.
Anyone that would like to apply for these scholarships will find applications and more information at wilkesfolks.org or on Facebook. Mail the completed application to Susan Rhodes, PO Box 123, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659-0123. We invite everyone to attend our meeting the third Monday of each month except December at the Watson Stage, 7:00 PM. WAFS Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization formed in 2000.
