The Glenville State College Bluegrass Band will be performing in the school’s annual bluegrass concert on October 8, held on the second Saturday of October each year in the GSC Fine Arts Auditorium in Glenville, WV. This event serves as a fundraiser for the program, which awards a Bachelor of Music degree for bluegrass students, and a minor in bluegrass for students in other majors, or a certificate program.
This year’s concert is also special as the students will be celebrating the release of a second album featuring Glenville students, recorded earlier this year by Rickey Wasson at his Main Street Studio in Clay City, KY. Sales of the albums help fund touring and internship opportunities for bluegrass students.
The full, four-year degree has been available through the college since 2006. Buddy Griffin headed up the program at the time and, though he retired in 2010, he will be returning to perform on the annual concert this year.
Since 2011, Megan Darby has served as Director. She tells us that enrollment in the major has soared in recent years as West Virginia high school students have learned about the program. Megan has reworked the curriculum since taking over, offering courses in bluegrass history, and the business of music, along with applied lessons and bluegrass band credits.
She is especially proud of the internships they have been able to arrange for Glenville students, like the opportunity this past summer where two bluegrass pickers from the program went to Buffalo, WY to play at a Dude Ranch.
For ticket information, or to order a copy of the Glenville State Bluegrass Band CD, you can contact Megan by phone at 304-462-6347 or by email. She can also share information about the bluegrass program there at Glenville State.
