We posted last month about the scholarship that had just been announced to allow a budding young resonator guitarist to attend the annual ResoSummit in Nashville this Fall. The scholarship was created in the memory of Houston Caldwell, a talented young bluegrass musician and outstanding young man who was killed in a tragic motorcycle accident in 2010.
Earlier this afternoon at the HoustonFest in Galax, VA – held as a memorial for Caldwell – Rob divulged the name of this first recipient, Bea Brackin, 17, of Dalton, GA. She will attend ResoSummit free of charge November 10-13, and thanks to the additional support of an anonymous benefactor, her meals and housing during the 3 day reso-extravaganza will be covered as well.
Bea was selected from among the many applicants for this award, based on videos of her picking Josh Graves’ Flatt Lonesome, and Reso Fandango from Tut Taylor. She has been playing less than two years, and developed her passion for resonator guitar after watching Megan Lovell playing in the studio. That chance encounter led to regular lessons with Megan, and a fine start on a life-long fascination with the instrument.
In accepting the scholarship, Bea explained a bit about what attracted her to the dobro.
“I love the dobro because it is such a versatile instrument and very vocal. I enjoy bluegrass as well as new grass music, and hope to grow as a better player in many different styles of music. I hope to learn a lot more technique and ways of playing at ResoSummit. I believe that being around others who share my love of this instrument will give me new insight in how to play.
I am so honored to receive the Houston Caldwell scholarship, and I am incredibly thankful for this chance to grow as a dobro player!”
Congratulation Bea, and hats off to ResoSummit for extending this opportunity to young musicians!
