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In its sixth year, The Blues Foundation’s
Generation Blues program was
able to award nearly $23,000 in
scholarships to young musicians in the
summer of 2015. Here are comments
from a number of the recipients.
Roman Barten-Sherman,
12 (Port Townsend
Acoustic Blues Festival/
Workshop) “This year The
Centrum Acoustic Blues
Workshop was an incredible
life-altering experience not only
in the music I heard performed
by the all-star faculty and the
music I personally learned, but
also in the incredible youth
community…the vibrant community
of youth musicians who
are as excited about learning
this wonderful music as I am,
truly created a unique and
unforgettable experience that I
will carry with me and continue
to learn from all year long.”
Matthew Chalk, 16 (Port
Townsend Acoustic Blues
Festival/Workshop) “This
is the second year that I had
the privilege to receive a
Generation Blues Scholarship.
This year, I attended the Port
Townsend Acoustic Blues
Festival/Workshop, and it was
a week that I will never forget.”
Ricky Cordner, 14
(Fernando Jones-Nashville)
“One of my favorite parts of
the camp was when we went
to BMI. I got to learn how musicians
made money and met
Gil Gann and former B.B. King
bassist Micheal Doster.”
Michael Czubaj, 15
(Pinetop Perkins
Masterclass
Workshop)
“This workshop
gave me the
opportunity to
play and meet
Victor
Wainwright
& Michael
Czubaj
great musicians including Victor
Wainwright, John Del Toro
Richardson, Gary Allegretto and
Bob Margolin. Playing Ground
Zero that Friday night truly and
honestly changed my life. I
met Morgan Freeman, who not
only loved all the young artists’
performances but told me how
much he liked my playing!”
Radka Kasparcova, 16
(Berklee Guitar Sessions)
“This camp kept young musicians
busy with things to do
from 10am to 10:30pm with
classes, ensemble practices,
clinics, performances,
and jams of all varieties.
I got the
chance to play
with guitarists my
age from all over
the world, and
learn from actual
college professors
what the music
world is like and how
to improve one’s playing
skills and musicianship.”
Port Townsend Centrum Acoustic Blues
Workshop Participants; Christopher
Wesley, Isaac Hollandsworth, Roman
Barten-Sherman & Savanna Coen
Eryn Kelly, 19 (Roots Rock
Revival) “Being there was like
the perfect dream; the mountains
all around, the rivers, the
colorful flowers, the soft air,
great music. I learned about
being confident as a performer
and about respect for all of
life, not just music. My favorite
H G ENERATION BLUES H 63