Candidate Statements For 2019-2020 Board Of Directors Election To Be Held August 10

The Members of the Northern California Bluegrass Society will elect the 10-member 2019-2020 Board of Directors on Saturday, August 10, 2019, 10:00am-5:00pm at the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival at the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos, and by mail. Mailed ballots must be received by Tuesday, August 6, 2019. Ten candidates have submitted Candidate Statements and will appear on the ballot. They are:

Bruce Bellochio — Hello Bruce here, you may have seen me around over the last 17 years. And thank you for your votes. As a board member with NCBS I look forward to continuing my service in 2019, promoting bluegrass music for our community. Vote for me again and great things will happen!

Eric Burman — Ladies and gentlemen, once again I ask that you support me with your vote, so we can keep making this “Good Ol’ Fashioned Bluegrass Festival” the “party that will never end.” Thank you and good night.

Bruce Edmundson — I have been an active bluegrass music volunteer with NCBS/SCBS (and formerly with Redwood Bluegrass Associates) for many years, and plan to continue to help with the GOF and other activities as well as continuing to serve as the Treasurer and webmaster. I would appreciate your vote so that I can continue to be part of the bluegrass team.

Jesse Fichman — In the past year, we have made progress reaching out to younger generations of bluegrass lovers, and we plan on continuing this effort. It has been a pleasure working with the board, and I look forward to another successful year of supporting traditional bluegrass. See you at GOF!

Mike Fisher – I am once again running for the NCBS Board, where I have served for many years. I ran the gate at the GOF for 20 years. One of my priorities is to encourage younger people to help run our organization. Please volunteer for the Board or the GOF Committee. (over)

Dana Frankel — I have enjoyed serving as the youngest member of the NCBS Board of Directors for the past year. I have worked on the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, which I have gone to since I was a little kid and will organize the Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair beginning next May. I am excited about the future of the Society and look forward to representing Santa Cruz on the board going forward and most importantly, sharing bluegrass with my community!

Michael Hall – My Grass Is Blue! This has been a great year for the Northern California Bluegrass Society, with the successful Bluegrass On Broadway, Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair, and Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival events, plus more fun gatherings all year long! I look forward to working on even more bluegrass music happenings in the coming year. Thanks to all of the volunteers and musicians who make it happen!

AJ Lee — Over the last 16 years, I have been actively participating in various bluegrass events hosted by the NCBS and similar organizations. Drawing from these years of experience, I have contributed ideas and new suggestions to the board. It’s been an honor serving the bluegrass community, and I hope to continue to contribute in the upcoming year.

Karen Reyes — It has been my pleasure to serve on the Board of Directors for the Northern California Bluegrass Society this past year. We have supported many exciting events and have been working hard to celebrate the 26th anniversary for the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival in August. I look forward to continuing my position on the Board and hope you will re-elect me and allow me the privilege of continuing to support bluegrass music in California and beyond. We have a great community of musicians and fans. I enjoy supporting the musicians who keep alive our traditional American music roots as well as our younger musicians who are introducing new sub-genres of bluegrass, attracting a wide ranging audience. Let’s keep bluegrass loud and proud!

Mike Russell — I’ve enjoyed being a part of the NCBS Board of Directors since 2004.  My passion is producing a radio program for the local bluegrass scene which provides an avenue for bands to showcase their talents live on the radio. I look forward to another great year in 2018-2019. Thank you for your support!

Write-in votes are also accepted. Ballots will be included in Bluegrass By The Bay and will be available at the NCBS Booth at the GOF Festival during voting hours.

Candidate Statements For 2019 NCBS Board Of Directors Election Due On June 30

The Annual Election for the Northern California Bluegrass Society Board Of Directors will be held at the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival at the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos on Saturday, August 10, 2019, 10:00am-5:00pm, and by mail.

Candidate Statements are due to Michael Hall by June 30, 2019, for publication in the July issue of Bluegrass By The Bay and on the NCBS Website. Statements are limited to 100 words.

NCBS Congratulates Kali Nowakowski And The Rest Of The IBMA Leadership Bluegrass Class Of 2019

Congratulations to Kali Nowakowski of Straight Up Strings By Siminoff, Atascadero, California and the rest of the International Bluegrass Music Association Leadership Bluegrass Class Of 2019. The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA.

The 2019 class will meet next March in Nashville. NCBS Members are encouraged to consider applying for the 2020 class before the October 31, 2019 deadline. Applications will be available on the IBMA Website in September.

The Class Of 2019:

Anni Beach, Jam Pak Blues ‘N’ Grass Neighborhood Band, Chandler, AZ

David Benedict, Mile Twelve, Cambridge, MA

Andrea Berman, Pacific Pickin’, CiTR (101.9 FM), West Vancouver, BC

Sam Blumenthal, The Blumenthal Foundation, Charlotte, NC

Philip Chorney, Charm City Bluegrass/Baltimore Management Agency,

Rosedale, MD

Michelle Conceison,  Market Monkeys, Nashville, TN

Deborah Fillman, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Owensboro, KY

Sophie Galep, Minnesota Bluegrass, Elizabethton, TN

Michele Gourley, Durham, NC

Philip Graham, Ear Trumpet Labs, Portland, OR

Rick Greene, SamJam Bluegrass Festival, Waverly, OH

Katie Hogue, John Hartford Enterprises, Nashville, TN

John Lowell, John Lowell Music, Livingston, MT

Alex Mallett, Folk Alliance International, Kansas City, MO

Mary Beth Martin, Earl Scruggs Center, Shelby, NC

Jana Mougin, Dark Shadow Recording, Goodlettsville, TN

Kali Nowakowski, Straight Up Strings, Atascadero, CA

Forrest O’Connor, The O’Connor Band / Kate Lee & Forrest O’Connor, Nashville, TN

Thomas Pritchard, Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance, East Greenwich, RI

Gregory Reish, MTSU Center for Popular Music, Murfreesboro, TN

Kim Robins, Kim Robins and 40 Years Late, Worthington, IN

Matt Royles, Man About a Horse/Philly Bluegrass, Philadelphia, PA

John Strohm, Rounder Records, Nashville, TN

Maria Wallace, True North Music, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK

Melanie Wilson, Wilson Pickins Promotions, Westminster, SC

Congratulations To Berkeley’s Kara Kundert And The Rest Of The Leadership Bluegrass Class Of 2018

Congratulations to the International Bluegrass Music Association Leadership Bluegrass Class of 2018!

New graduate Kara Kundert of Berkeley is the Bay Area’s representative.

The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime organizational member of the IBMA and NCBS Members are encouraged to apply for the next class, set for March 2019 in Nashville.

The Leadership Bluegrass Class of 2018: Front row: Greg Blake, Jessica Grossman, Stacy Chandler, Patricia Ann Eaves, Cathy Fink, Jeff Miller Second row: Scott Napier, Mollie Farr, Katie Keller, Landon Elmore Third row: Maria Ivey, Patricia Imbrogno, Emma John, Ivy Shephard, Jef Walter Fourth row: Adam Kirr, George Jackson, Bil VornDick, Brett Martin, Kara Kundert, Matt Miller Back row: Patrick M’Gonigle, Dan Eubanks, Lenny Nichols, Jeffrey Ludin (Photo: Alane Anno)

Annual NCBS Volunteer Thank You Party Will Be Held Saturday October 14

The NCBS Volunteer Party!

The Northern California Bluegrass Society will honor and entertain the loyal, hard-working volunteers and bands from all of the various events and projects over the past year at the NCBS Volunteer Thank You Party on Saturday, October 14, 2017.

If you volunteered this year, look for your coveted invitation to arrive soon! And…thanks for your support!