PacJAM Youth Sam & Sarah Doan, and Jacob Cannon have all won big with their talents. In June, each student was awarded the top scholarship prize from the Wayne Henderson Foundation. These $500 grants pay for the students to continue their group, and private studies. The Pacolet Junior Appalachian Musicians at TFAC also was awarded program funding from the foundation.

 

Wayne Henderson, an acclaimed guitarist and luthier, established his Music Festival and Guitar Competition in 1995, and ever since has used a portion of the proceeds to benefit traditional music programs and budding young artists in the Central Appalachian Region.

 

Sarah began with fiddle, but now plays both fiddle and mandolin in PacJAM classes and in its performance band. Sam plays bluegrass banjo while Jacob’s strength is claw hammer style. PacJAM is proud to be a hotspot for learning each banjo method, as they both have early roots in this region. “In fact,” says PacJAM director Julie Moore, “banjo is one of the only ‘truly American’ instruments. People stereotype it, assuming it can only play one style of music, but in fact it is diverse as the guitar. We always have scholarship money set aside for students who wish to learn banjo – in either style. It is important to help preserve this local instrument.” 

 

Tryon Fine Arts Center is proud to help preserve and promote community-centered traditional music, and is thrilled that PacJAM, and PacJAM’s young students, are gaining recognition from organizations such as the Wayne C. Henderson Festival Scholarship. PacJAM fall semester for youth and adults runs September 11 through November 13. Visit tryonarts.org/pacjam for more information.

 

Julie Moore

 

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