The IBMA Foundation, the educational and philanthropic arm of the International Bluegrass Music Association, has launched a Strings For Dreams raffle for a 2022 HD-35 Martin guitar and case. The instrument is a donation to the Foundation from Dr. Richard Brown, a prominent dental practitioner in the Boston area, who is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Harvard University School of Dental Medicine.
The guitar is described as in pristine condition, and is valued at $4,500.
Raffle tickets are being sold until May 15 at $20, with substantial discounts offered for multiple entries, and no limit on the number that an individual may purchase.
Though less common in bluegrass circles than its cousins, the D-18 and D-28, Martin’s D-35 is very similarly built, using a three-piece back made of rosewood. The back has a V-shaped center piece, a practice that was implemented in 1965 when they wanted to utilize smaller pieces of their Brazilian rosewood stocks, too narrow to accommodate a D-28.
New HD-35 Martin guitars are selling in the $4,000 range.
Proceeds from the raffle will support the many programs and projects of the IBMA Foundation, including:
- Bluegrass camps and afterschool programs
- Educational bluegrass presentations in schools
- College scholarships for students focusing on bluegrass-related studies
- Bluegrass educational grants to help musicians with the expense of attending camps, lessons, educational supplies, and instrument rental/repair
- The Arnold Shultz Fund, which encourages participation in bluegrass music by people of color
- Bluegrass academic conferences, workshops, and research awards
- Educational resources including the Discover Bluegrass: Exploring American Roots Music and the Bluegrass Stagecraft 101 video series
All of these can be supported directly by donations to the Foundation.
Dr. Brown is a long-time and very active member of both the IBMA and the IBMA Foundation, and is a former Foundation board member. He was instrumental in helping establish the Arnold Shultz Fund and serves on its advisory committee.
The Foundation thanks him for his generosity.
Full details about the IBMA Foundation and their work can be found online, as can the all the information about the Strings For Dreams raffle.
