The Board of Directors of WAFS is honored to offer three scholarship opportunities. Both the Swannanoa Gathering and Pete Wernick are internationally recognized in the craft of music; teaching, preserving, performing and honoring music. Music has no borders. Music is for everyone. Each year WAFS offers scholarships to various venues in the foothills area. The Duncan-Elliott Memorial Scholarship at the Swannanoa Gathering, Warren Wilson College near Asheville, NC is awarded to one individual. The event is held in the summer months.
The week of MerleFest in Wilkesboro, NC a scholarship is awarded to an individual to attend Pete Wernick’s (aka Dr. Banjo) JamCamp. This year, WAFS is proud to announce a new scholarship. It is the Gary Saunders Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is also to attend Pete Wernick’s JamCamp. The Saunders scholarship was established in memory of the late Gary Saunders by his family and friends and administered by WAFS. A music scholarship seemed the best way for remembering Gary’s love for music and his special ability to make everything around him seem better. Gary was a seasoned musician and loved to teach the youth of our area the importance of keeping traditional music alive. The Duncan-Elliott Scholarship at the Swannanoa Gathering covers one week of workshops and lodging. Travel and meals must be paid by the recipient. This scholarship is for adults or youths. If under age sixteen, an adult must accompany the attendee and be responsible for their own fees. The 2022 Swannanoa Gathering will be held in-person, but with the addition of a number of safety protocols to promote a safe and healthy experience for all attendees and staff. Please note that due to Covid 19 this scholarship opportunity may be full. Please note the year of choice you want to attend on the application.
Pete Wernick’s JamCamp at MerleFest scholarships are held the week of MerleFest at the YMCA Camp Harrison, 7901 South Highway 18 Boomer, NC. The three day workshops will be covered by these scholarships. Recipients will be responsible for travel and meals. Accommodations and meals are available; however the recipient must make these arrangements directly with Camp Harrison. In 2004 WAFS scholarships were established with the help of members, community donations and fundraisers. Twenty-eight scholarships have been funded to date. They 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, Katy Farrar, 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.
To apply for the JamCamp scholarships one must be at least ten years of age. Please note there are two JamCamp applications. One is for the Gary Saunders Memorial Scholarship and one for the JamCamp at MerleFest. Please download and print the application from the www.wilkesfolks.org website and mail to Wilkes Acoustic Folk Society Inc., Attn: John Logsdon, PO Box 123, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659-0123. Applications must be post marked no later than midnight February 28, 2022.
WAFS Inc. was founded in 2000 as a not for profit 501(c)3 organization. In 2001 WAFS began hosting the Pickin’ Place at MerleFest, a venue in itself. In 2015 MerleFest reached out to WAFS to host the Musical Instrument Pettin’ Zoo for Little Pickers. WAFS monthly meetings are held the third Monday of each month except December. Board meetings are held prior to each meeting.
Community outreach includes a WAFS partnership with the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame for the T. R. Bryan, Jr., M.D. award. Through this partnership ten honorees have been inducted. They 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. Mr. Johnson will be inducted at the March 2022 ceremony.
Always held the Sunday prior to MerleFest is the T. R Bryan, Jr., M. D. Memorial Celebration of Music Concert. The program is to honor the late Dr. Bryan and his family members. The Bryan family continues the legacy of Dr. Bryan’s love for music since his passing in 2011. Doc once said “if we start the music on Sunday we will have an entire week of pickin’ and singin”. Susan Rhodes, WAFS President is in charge of the tribute. The program begins at 2:00 pm, Sunday, April 24, 2022 under the Dance Tent on the campus of Wilkes Community College. This is a free event.
WAFS hosts Pickin’ on the Lawn at the Wilkes Heritage Museum during Carolina in the Fall Festival. The festival is held in historic downtown Wilkesboro at the Carolina West Commons and surrounding area.
Please visit WAFS on Facebook and www.wilkesfolks.org for more information including scholarship applications, membership and donation forms and meeting information. Yearly membership is $30 family and $25 individual. Visit WAFS at a meeting the third Monday of each month except December 7:00 pm.
Remember the music lives on!