IBMA Leadership Bluegrass
IBMA’s Leadership Bluegrass: Why it Matters
by Helen Ludé
It seems like most of the good things in my life have stemmed from my connection to the bluegrass community: the joy of festival life as a kid; later, great jobs and internships, singing gospels until sunrise, and a growing international network of friends who feel like family. I find myself talking about bluegrass music wherever I go: “What is the bluegrass scene like in your city? How can we bridge gaps between our communities to promote growth in the industry? How can we encourage youth to carry on our beloved tradition?” I grew up in California, but since moving East, studying abroad in Europe, and attending festivals around the country as a tour manager, I’ve literally explored bluegrass community worldwide. I was thrilled to discover a platform to discuss these topics across regions and careers between folks of all ages and backgrounds in IBMA’s Leadership Bluegrass program.
I’ve committed myself to supporting the preservation of our beloved genre, and thanks to Leadership Bluegrass, I feel more inspired and energized than ever to support the future of bluegrass music. By 21, I’m not only a fiddler who picks at festivals until the wee hours of the morn, I’ve also developed experience in nonprofit startups, booking, management, promotion, record labels, talent buying, and instrument manufacturing. I currently buy talent for a concert series in Covington, Louisiana, and manage tour operations and run social media for AJ Lee & Blue Summit. While in college, I founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit called Bluegrass for Better, ran social media for six sub-brands of Saga Musical Instruments, interned at Compass Records and Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge in Nashville, and served as a youth ambassador, harmony singing instructor, and writer for the California Bluegrass Association. After meeting Seth Mulder this year at Leadership Bluegrass, I now represent Seth Mulder & Midnight Run as their booking agent. Inspired by conversations at Leadership Bluegrass this year, I soon hope to launch an IBMA-affiliated financial literacy program.
Leadership Bluegrass is the International Bluegrass Music Association’s annual three-day intensive professional development program covering a broad scope of subjects, from licensing and copyright, record labels and touring, to basic business principles, music education, and panels with bluegrass legends like Larry Sparks and Béla Fleck. Launched in 2000, Leadership Bluegrass boasts over 500 graduates from every facet of our music industry. California’s graduates include banjo maven Bill Evans, CBA President Emerita Darby Brandli, Northern California Bluegrass Society past president and board member Michael Hall, CBA talent committee lead Danny “Hootenanny” Clark, booking agent Maria Nadauld, multi-instrumentalist and manager Jacob Groopman, square-dance caller and fiddler Evie Ladin, former Bluegrass Pride director and bluegrass writer Kara Kundert, fiddler and Berkeley Old-Time Music Convention director Suzy Thompson, and current CBA Chairman Dave Gooding. CBA Old-Time Music Director Karen Celia Heil and I represented California this March!
Leadership Bluegrass is a rare opportunity for individuals invested in bluegrass to have focussed discussions led by industry experts who LOVE bluegrass. Over the past 23 years, participants have heard from bluegrass luminaries like Doyle Lawson and Sam Bush, and management teams for the likes of Billy Strings and Alison Krauss. During the 2024 session, we heard from performers Alison Brown, Béla Fleck, and John McEuen. You may even have a chance to meet your bluegrass heroes, like when guitarist and IBMA volunteer Archie Warnock entered the Leadership Bluegrass room in 2001. Warnock was met with a friendly greeting, "Hi, I'm Mac Wiseman. Welcome to Leadership Bluegrass."
Program participants get the benefit of hearing from acclaimed guest speakers and panelists, but the work is self-guided. The small cohorts of just 25 participants each year allow for intense and productive networking and problem-solving through intimate collaboration. Many industry professionals wear several hats in the bluegrass world, bringing unique experiences from the field to the table. The learning doesn’t stop there—the Leadership Bluegrass alumni committee hosts an annual alumni reception on Monday night at IBMA’s World of Bluegrass, as well as weekend alumni retreats and regular webinars to further bluegrass education opportunities throughout the year.
Leadership Bluegrass is perhaps one of IBMA’s most meaningful accomplishments, according to Jon Weisberger, renowned songwriter, journalist, producer, and Leadership Bluegrass class of 2006. The program develops a robust pool of talent by “identifying actual and potential leaders, then deepening their understanding of the current industry landscape across all aspects of our music world,” says Weisberger. Inevitably, the camaraderie builds cohesiveness by bringing bluegrass folks with different careers and perspectives together to create new opportunities for both individual and community growth. For example, Leadership Bluegrass gives luthiers insight into how talent management works, and festival promoters insight into the life of a struggling artist. Artists may meet their new producer or booking agent, and new initiatives may form, like CBA’s Jam-A-Thon, dreamed up by Darby Brandli and Kimber Ludiker after they met during Leadership Bluegrass 2015. Weisburger also notes the value of staying up-to-date with the rapid changing of times and the latest information on critical topics, including streaming, artificial intelligence, and declining record sales.
Recently, Leadership Bluegrass incorporated a health and wellness component into the three-day track, with topics like managing burn out, staying healthy on the road, and substance safety. Jordan Laney, an Appalachia and bluegrass music educator from the 2013 cohort, has led the wellness initiative since 2020 after listening to Leadership Bluegrass participants discuss challenges on the road, the pressures of leading a band, and managing boundaries. This is just one example of the way Leadership Bluegrass shifts and adapts to rising needs.
Everyone is welcome at the Leadership Bluegrass table. When Stacy Chandler, assistant editor and music journalist at No Depression, considered applying for the Leadership Bluegrass in 2018, she wasn’t sure she was “bluegrass enough” to fit in. She later graduated the program with new stories informed by a wide range of bluegrass backgrounds, and even hired someone from the group who became a vital part of the No Depression team. Similarly, CJ Lewandowski, Po Ramblin’ Boys band leader and Leadership Bluegrass class of 2017, found a home in the IBMA despite growing up feeling like his music might be too traditional for the progressive-leaning IBMA. However, since graduating the program, he’s worked with every one of his classmates, and now sits on the IBMA Board of Directors. Many graduates get more involved with bluegrass through sitting on IBMA committees, volunteering at local events, and bringing a broader perspective back to their regional bluegrass scenes.
Held at Belmont College in Nashville, TN
Program graduates appreciate the invaluable friendships and initiatives that spring from the program for years to come. Seth Mulder, band leader in the 2024 Class cohort, echoes the old adage, “it’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know.” Our music industry relies heavily on relationship building, especially in bluegrass music—a genre that continues to have a homegrown, grassroots edge to it. “Our community is like a close-knit neighborhood full of heart, where all you have to do is ask for help and someone is there for support and insight,” says Anna Kline, IBMA’s business development director and Class of 2024 participant. After graduating Leadership Bluegrass, students become a member of an alumni body of over 500 active bluegrass professionals. George Jackson, renowned New Zealand fiddler in the Jacob Jolliff Band, said his 2018 program peers proved more valuable to him than the program activities or guest speakers. Even well-connected folk like Liam Purcell of Cane Mill Road feel a new spark of energy and connectedness thanks to the program.
What is leadership within the context of bluegrass? Kline said Leadership Bluegrass helped her develop a more fine-tuned sense of personal responsibility through leadership. “Being a leader isn't necessarily being ‘in charge,’ but taking a proactive role as a mentor and guide, community-builder, and advocate,” Kline remarks. Understanding varying perspectives, backgrounds, and beliefs about our beloved genre is essential to building our audience while adapting to a changing world. All that being said, leadership in bluegrass is a niche rooted in passion and grit, a profound love for tradition, and the high lonesome sound. Bluegrass thrives off its community, and by working together we can understand where our efforts will be most productive.
With the help of IBMA and programs like Leadership Bluegrass, the bluegrass world has made long strides. Still, we have a long way to go. We have limited resources—many top-notch artists and support staff tour long hours but barely scrape by, and great ideas float around but wither without financial backing. How can we help artists and initiatives thrive despite limited funding? How can we engage Billy String fans with the larger part of the bluegrass economy?
Ethnic diversity is another challenge in our community. As an Asian young woman, I rarely see people who look like me in bluegrass circles. Promoting inclusivity for identities of all kinds is the obvious foundation for community growth, but how can we minimize stereotypes, judgments, and egos across these various groups? Other deep questions also beg attention. How will bluegrass adapt to navigate rapid technological advancements? How can we support people in our community from the ground up? These are just some of the many topics to brainstorm at the Leadership Bluegrass table with people who share valuable insight and perspectives.
There are many reasons one may apply for Leadership Bluegrass. Austin Schelzo quit his tenured public school teaching job in one of the most elite and affluent public school systems in the world to pursue a dream of working in bluegrass. Jacob Groopman hoped to develop business skills to support his growing band and build a network in Nashville. Vickie Vaughn sought to form relationships with folks other than artists early in her career. Suzy Thompson applied at the suggestion of Cathy Fink; Jordan Laney on account of her mentors in her master’s program at Appalachian State University. Many apply because they want to get more involved in the bluegrass community beyond their regional scene.
It’s impossible to summarize all of the benefits for individual participants and the bluegrass community as a whole. You form connections, better understand different aspects of the music industry, and learn from bluegrass experts. CBA’s Danny “Hootenanny” Clark encourages everyone who has the passion, dedication and persistence to make bluegrass a living (while noting it's not easy) to apply. “There is no title or salary big or small enough that should prevent someone from applying,” says music marketing strategist Ariel Rosemberg. That being said, the application process is quite competitive and applicants should avoid feeling discouraged if they aren’t selected on the first go around. If you’re still reading, maybe you should apply!
A rising tide raises all ships, and as bluegrass lovers and leaders we are part of that tide. Our bluegrass ecosystem is made up of folks from different cities with different lifestyles, careers, perspectives, beliefs, and even taste in music. These differences are what strengthen our community. Listening and learning to each other has the potential to make great change for the better. Bluegrass has a bright future, but we must work together.
Apply for Leadership Bluegrass 2025!
Published in the California Bluegrass Association’s Bluegrass Breakdown (September 2024)
Thanks to Jon Weisberger, Anna Kline, Jeff Westerinen, Jordan Laney, CJ Lewandowski, Austin Scelzo, Maria Nadauld, Jeff Burke, Jacob Groopman, Danny Clark, Liam Purcell, Suzy Thompson, Lee Stivers, Lucas White, Archie Warnock, Ari Rosemberg, Vickie Vaughn, Reuben Shetler, George Jackson, Michael Hall, Christopher Howard Williams, Seth Mulder, Kody Norris, and Stacy Chandler for your contributions!
Leadership Bluegrass Class of 2024
INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES GRADUATING CLASS OF LEADERSHIP BLUEGRASS 2024
NASHVILLE, TENN. (March 8, 2024) – The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) is proud to announce the graduating class of Leadership Bluegrass 2024, an intensive three-day program of advanced-level interactive learning experiences designed to build commitment, motivate talents, and instill enthusiasm for addressing the future of the bluegrass music industry. This was the 23rd year of Leadership Bluegrass, which now boasts 560 alumni. Leadership Bluegrass 2024 was hosted on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee March 4-6. Jeff Westerinen served as the course facilitator and Maria Nadauld served as the assistant facilitator.
The IBMA also recognizes our Leadership Bluegrass 2024 Planning Committee: Stacy Chandler (Co-Chair), Casey Campbell (Co-Chair), Dustin Boyd, Jordan Laney, Greg Blake, Phil Chorney, Kris Trueslen, and Ethan Charles (IBMA Staff Liaison).
This year, Leadership Bluegrass was fortunate to have an illustrious list of top-tier industry speakers and presenters: among which were Alison Brown, John McEuen, Béla Fleck, and Jerry Salley.
Each year, participants are selected through a highly competitive application process and are a cross-section of current and future leaders from all areas of the industry.
