Ireland in Leadership Bluegrass 2008 Class

In the IBMA's words, 'Leadership Bluegrass, now in its ninth year with more than 180 alumni, is an intensive three-day program of advanced-level, interactive learning experiences that invites participants to examine the challenges and opportunities facing our music along with related leadership issues.'

The IBMA has just announced the names of the twenty-five members of this year's Leadership Bluegrass Class, and Ireland is well represented - the list includes Roger Ryan of the Country Music Association of Ireland, Richard Hurst of the Ulster American Folk Park, and Katy Leonard, now an IBMA staff member, who did her thesis at the University of Limerick on bluegrass in Ireland. The full list can be seen here. Roger and Richard are the only members of the class to come from outside North America.

Leadership Bluegrass will be hosted again this year at the BMI offices in Nashville on 25-7 March, and will be facilitated by Fred Bartenstein. Contact the IBMA office for information on future Leadership Bluegrass programmes: +1 615 256-3222; e-mail.