Richard Hurst leaves the chair of the EBMA

Richard Hurst, chief organiser of the Ulster American Folk Park's award-winning annual Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival, has been obliged by pressure of other commitments to step down from the position of chairperson of the European Bluegrass Music Association (EBMA), which he has held for the last eighteen months. Richard reports:

Work commitments within National Museums Northern Ireland, and at home in Donegal, have just reached the point where something has to give. I have enjoyed the experience of being on the EBMA Board immensely, and obviously leave the scene with more than a tinge of sadness and regret. Working with fellow board members has been a joy in itself and their continued commitment to the development of bluegrass music in Europe is something I will continue to admire and support as an Association member in the years to come. I wish Angelika, Rienk, Petr, Dagfinn, and Martino a fair wind into the future and will ensure that our annual Bluegrass Festival at the Ulster American Folk Park continues to promote the EBMA and its work at every opportunity possible.

The EBMA board had its first Skype-Conference on 23 December 2009, and on Richard's recommendation unanimously elected Angelika Torrie to the chair. Angelika has been the EBMA's treasurer since its foundation in 2001, and its webmaster for several years. On behalf of the board, Angelika writes:

Although the EBMA board of directors is sad to see him leave, we send out to Richard Hurst a warm and heartfelt THANK YOU for his work for EBMA over the past months, and wish him all the power he needs for all commitments at home and at work. And of course we look forward to meeting with him again on the occasion of one or the other bluegrass event.