The International Bluegrass Music Association’s 2010 Leadership Bluegrass Class includes one Californian, Avery Ellisman of Encinitas. Ellisman is a bluegrass fiddler and a fundraiser for non-profit bluegrass projects. The class has members from Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the US. One class member, Phil Bankester, is currently shooting an updated documentary film that includes segments with Bay Area musicians A. J. Lee and Max Schwartz of the OMGG band. The Northern California Bluegrass Society is a longtime member of the IBMA. The class roster:

Phil Bankester, The Bankester Family, Genuine Human Productions;
Carbondale, Ill.
Carol Beaugard, WFDU-FM, WAMU’s Bluegrass Country; Chester, N.Y.
Kissy Black, Lotos Nile; Nashville, Tenn.
Linda Bonner, Grassland Elementary; Brentwood, Tenn.
Thomas J. Brown, Spatial Effects, Songwriter/Playwright,
Southeast Bluegrass Association; Dalton, Ga.
Megan Brugger, Classic Country Radio, Southern Ohio Indoor Music
Festival; Xenia, Ohio
Denis Chadbourn, Bluegrass Music Association Central Canada,
Nipissing Bluegrass Association, C-Denny Band; Rutherglen, Ontario,
Canada
Karl S. Cooler, Mountain Roads Recordings; Bristol, Tenn.
Lachlan Davidson, Davidson Brothers; Doncaster East, Victoria,
Australia
R. Avery Ellisman, Non-profit Management Resource Development;
Encinitas, Calif.
Doris Gray, Colorado Bluegrass Music Society; Boulder, Colo.
Chris Keenan, Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival; Co. Roscommon,
Ireland
Thad Keim, Compass Records Group, VP of Sales & Marketing;
Nashville, Tenn.
Joan Kornblith, Voice of America; Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Larson, Straight Drive; Brooklyn, N.Y.
William D. Lewis, PineCone - the Piedmont Council of Traditional
Music, Executive Director; Raleigh, N.C.
Patty Mitchell, Artist; Nashville, Tenn.
Jess Norburg, IBMA; Nashville, Tenn.
Gretchen Priest-May, The Musical Heritage Center, Fiddle & Pick;
Pegram, Tenn.
Michael Ramsey, Red, White and Bluegrass Festival; Morganton, N.C.
Gary Reid, Bluegrass Productions of Virginia, LLC; Roanoke, Va.
Jessica Smith, Bassist/Singer/Songwriter; Lyons, Colo.
Jean Spivey, Old Settler’s Music Festival; Austin, Texas
Andrew Stokes, Associate Manager, McLachlan Management
International; Nashville, Tenn.
Donna Ulisse, Donna Ulisse & the Poor Mountain Boys, Hadley
Music Group; Nashville, Tenn.

Leadership Bluegrass, now in its eleventh year with more than 250 alumni, is an intensive three-day program of advanced level, interactive learning experiences that invites participants to examine the challenges and opportunities facing bluegrass music along with related leadership issues. NCBS members are encouraged to apply for admission to future Leadership Bluegrass classes.

The February issue of Bluegrass by the Bay features an interview with Nashville Bluegrass Band mandolinist Mike Compton. Mike and the rest of NBB will be here for the RBA concert series on Feb. 13th and an SFBOT show at the Freight & Salvage on the 14th.

The PDF version can be downloaded from the Members Area of the website; subscribers to the paper edition should have theirs later this week.

The new year is almost upon us and with it a new issue of Bluegrass by the Bay. NCBS members can download the PDF from the members area of the website. Printed copies are in the mail and will hopefully reach you before the first weekend of 2010.

Each member of the Northern California Bluegrass Society can place a free want ad in Bluegrass By The Bay magazine each month. The ads are useful for informing fellow members about lessons, instruments, bands, websites and other bluegrass-related matters. Members can submit ad copy to the (BBB Editors) bluegrassbythebay (at) gmail (dot) com before the 10th of the month preceding publication.