The deadline for applications to the 2005 Roanoke Bluegrass Weekend Scholarship has been extended to August 31. Any applications postmarked by that date will be accepted for consideration for the three spots being awarded this year.

Roanoke Bluegrass Weekend is a three day instructional seminar, held in November each year in Roanoke, VA and hosted by Herschel Sizemore and John Lawless (one of the authors of this blog).

A delay in the preparation and mailing of the RBW brochures left potential applicants with only a very short time to get an application in, so an additional month was added to the submission period. This scholarship is open to young bluegrass musicians between 13 and 24 years of age, and based on demonstrated ability. Full tuition and hotel accommodations are included in the scholarship award, along with some air fare reimbursements for folks traveling beyond a certain distance.

These scholarships are funded through the generosity of Gibson Original Acoustic Instruments. Each year, they have donated a new instrument to be raffled, with all proceeds going to this scholarship fund. The proceeds from the 2004 raffle (for a new F9) mandolin is funding this year’s three scholarship recipients. RBW is raffling off a new Earl Scruggs model banjo this year, with proceeds funding next year’s scholarship awards.