IBMA Recognizes Graduating Class of 2026 IBMA Leadership Bluegrass

 

www.thesonicplanet.com

NASHVILLE, TENN - The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) is pleased to recognize the 2026 graduates of IBMA Leadership Bluegrass. Marking the 25th year of the program, IBMA Leadership Bluegrass has cultivated a network of more than 500 alumni. 

This intensive three-day program provides participants with in-depth learning, networking opportunities, and the tools to address the evolving challenges and opportunities within the bluegrass music industry. 

The 2026 program took place March 2-4 at the Country Music Association in Nashville, Tennessee. Jeff Westerinen served as course facilitator and Nancy Posey served as assistant facilitator. The IBMA also recognizes the 2026 IBMA Leadership Bluegrass Planning Committee, whose efforts made the program possible: Greg Blake, Jeff Burke, Dustin Boyd, Dave Howard, Jordan Laney, Erin Moorman, and IBMA Staff Liaison Haley Grimm. 

Each year, participants are carefully chosen through a competitive process, bringing together current and future leaders from all corners of the bluegrass community. The 2026 class includes representatives from Québec, British Columbia, Switzerland, Australia, and across the United States. 

The 2026 IBMA Leadership Bluegrass graduates are: 
Chassady Abernathy - Sound Biscuit / Appalachian Road Show / ETSU (Ellijay, GA) 

Evie Andrus - East Tennessee Bluegrass Association, President / University of Tennessee, Lecturer of Appalachian Music / Pellissippi State Community College, Adjunct Music Faculty / Laurel Theater, Managing Director (Knoxville, TN) 
 
Jessica Blankenship - Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum (London, KY) 
 
Kathryn Boucher - Spartanburg Philharmonic (Spartanburg, SC) 
 
Madeleine Cody - The Cody Sisters (Brooklyn, NY) 

Amy Sue Combs - International Bluegrass Music Association (Bowling Green, KY)
 
Joe Dan Cornett - North Chapel Music (White House, TN) 

Gina Dilg - Square Dance Agency (Radford, VA) 

Helen Foley - California Bluegrass Association (Sonoma, CA) 

Tanya Guenther - NimblePie Creative Co. / NimbleFingers Bluegrass & Old-Time Workshops & Festival (Mile Ranch, British Columbia, Canada) 

Byron Hill - Byron Hill Music (Franklin, TN) 

Tyler Hughes - The Crooked Road (Big Stone Gap, VA) 

Stephen M. Johnson – Represent / GPA Government and Public Affairs (Owensboro, KY)

Sarah W. Larsen - Black-Eyed Suzies / Little Fiddle Studio (Stevesville, MD) 

Joanne Ledesma - Musicbizgal.com (Glendora, CA)

Isaac McCarthy - The Ohio State University / Bluegrass Pride (Gerrardstown, WV)

Will McSeveney - Skyline Records (Nashville, TN)

Bridget Rees - Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival (Megan, New South Wales, Australia)

Benjamin Russell - Gordon Rees / Delta Hayride Association (Nashville, TN) 

Mark R. Schuster - IBMA Foundation (Langley, WA) 

Elliot Siff - The Bluegrass Journeymen Academy / Elliot Siff Productions (Golden, CO) 

Carly Speno - Bonfire Entertainment (Laval, Québec, Canada) 

Randy Steele - tnjams.com (Chattanooga, TN) 

Shelly Surdoval - The Recording Academy (Franklin, TN) 

Urs-Rainer von Arx - Swiss Bluegrass Music Association / Country Ramblers (Zürich, Switzerland) 

Liz Wolfe - BluegrassJamsNearMe.com (New York, NY) 

Information and applications for 2027 IBMA Leadership Bluegrass will be available at www.ibma.org/leadership-bluegrass this fall. Learn more about the International Bluegrass Music Association at ibma.org and worldofbluegrass.org. 

Local Vibrations: Evening with Micky Dolenz Brightens Historic Florida Theatre

 

Photo Credit kimreedphotos.com

By Mike Bonts, The Sonic Planet

Micky Dolenz’s performance at the historic Florida Theatre in Downtown Jacksonville, Fla. was energetic, entertaining, and a nostalgic tribute to The Monkees.

He can be praised for his vocals, stage presence, and for sharing stories that connect the music to personal anecdotes. The Florida Theatre audience enjoyed his blend of rock classics and dialogue.

“I thought Micky was amazing! He sounded fantastic tonight and told great stories. Just phenomenal,” said Sara Jenkins, a fan since the late sixties.

The concert was a sentimental celebration of The Monkees' music and the memories associated with it.

A performer since childhood, Dolenz is a natural entertainer who is engaging and humble, sharing personal reflections and jokes that resonated with the audience.

He performed with a talented band that provided strong musical backing for both ballads and upbeat numbers. His voice was clear and precise for his age; he understandably avoided certain high notes to stay within his capabilities.

The multimedia element of the concert really sealed it as being more than just a Dolenz concert. Featured prominently behind Micky and the band were home videos, clips, and outtakes from The Monkees television show.

“Great show! Energetic from start to end. Micky did a great job in celebrating the Monkees! Wonderful to see the footage of all of them,” noted one concert goer.

From his setlist Dolenz performed classic Monkees hits, often interspersing them with stories and some covers from other artists, like Chuck Berry, Buffalo Springfield and the Beatles.

The night’s setlists featured a mix of classic Monkees hits like "I'm a Believer," "Daydream Believer," and "Last Train to Clarksville," alongside covers of Beatles ("Good Morning Good Morning"), Chuck Berry ("Johnny B. Goode"), and Jimi Hendrix ("Purple Haze"), plus Monkees deep cuts and other '60s favorites, including "Pleasant Valley Sunday”.

“It was a memorable and emotional experience in a great venue, especially for those who grew up listening to The Monkees,’ noted Paul and Kathy Cumbie, who travelled from Palatka, Fla. to see the show.

(Mike Bonts is program director for www.thesonicplanet.com. The Sonic Planet is a web-based radio station that offers free live-streaming of folk, rock, bluegrass and blues while, promoting live music venues, emerging artists and roots music.)

Rebuilding Together Greater Florida Brings Experience, Skill and Critical Mission to Jacksonville

 

Michael Edmison (left), Vice President of Network Advancement, National Rebuilding Together, Chris Reesor, Community Engagement Administrator, Rebuilding Together Greater Florida, Ken Amaro, Jacksonville City Councilman, District 1 and Justin Coles, Vice President of Development, Rebuilding Together Greater Florida.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (November 13, 2025) – Rebuilding Together Greater Florida (RTGFL) today announced that Jacksonville will be benefiting from their vital core mission to Repair Homes, Revitalize Communities, and Rebuild Lives.

“Together along with our community partners and other key collaborators, we have been able to rally around a most treasured asset, people, in their greatest time of need,” said Jose Garcia, Chief Executive Officer, Rebuilding Together Greater Florida. “By investing in the resources and services needed for safe, healthy housing, we continue to prioritize improving the quality of life.”

The announcement comes during an inaugural day-long volunteer project at Five STAR Veterans Center in Arlington. Founded in 2012, Five STAR Veterans Center assists veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, traumatic brain injuries, depression, anxiety and other related mental health issues.

RTGFL is coordinating over 80 volunteers from The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, Team Depot and the Home Builders Institute (HBI), Travis Manion Foundation, and the Soldier’s Angels. The Home Depot Foundation provided a $40,000 grant for the project.

“As a Team Depot captain, it’s inspiring to see our volunteers come together to make a tangible difference for veterans and families in need. Projects like this show the power of community and the impact of lending a helping hand where it’s needed most,” said Sam Colon, Store Manager at the Jacksonville Home Depot.

Colonel Francis "Len" Loving, USMC (Ret.), a decorated 30-year Marine veteran and founder and CEO of the Five STAR Veterans Center, will be recognized with a special presentation by the Travis Manion Foundation.

“It’s our honor to assist Five STAR Veterans Center and its founder in creating an even more peaceful environment creating a place of healing,” added Garcia. “Everyone deserves to live in a safe and healthy environment especially our Veterans. Thanks to The Home Depot Foundation, HBI and the Travis Manion Foundation.”

RTGFL has carried out a critical, three-pronged mission for more than two decades and has identified Jacksonville neighborhoods that could benefit from their knowledge, experience and skills.

Through the Safe and Healthy Home Program, they perform vital repairs and upgrades to make homes safer and more secure. The program helps homeowners by reducing the risk of accidents and health hazards.

“This enables senior citizens to age in place, which helps stabilize neighborhoods and helps preserve family wealth for the next generation,” noted Garcia.

RTGFL follows 25 key safety priorities, ensuring homes have safe entrances, watertight roofs, functional smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, pest-free environments and bathroom modifications, for those with mobility challenges.

Another important mission is recovery from hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters. RTGFL continues to be at the forefront in providing crucial support to families struggling to cope after a disaster.

RTGFL is also dedicated to addressing the state’s affordable housing crisis. They have built homes that are affordable for purchase and provide affordable rental units that provide families with a pathway to financial stability.

RTGFL’s track record of rebuilding stronger, more resilient communities is a perfect fit for Jacksonville’s growing housing needs. To learn more about how you can get involved, please visit www.rtgfl.org.

KW RED Day Volunteers Converge on Southern Villas

 ST. AUGUSTINE - RED Day is Keller Williams Atlantic Partners’ annual day of giving back. This year the local Realtor had a day of service at Southern Villas.

The non-profit St. Johns Housing Partnership (SJHP) owns Southern Villas, a USDA subsidized multifamily property in St. Augustine for the elderly and handicapped. 

Every second Thursday of May, KW agents, leaders, and associates step away from their daily business routine and venture out into their communities to renew, energize and volunteer.

"Our associates and staff are proud to give back by supporting the vital work of the St. Johns Housing Partnership. RED Day is just one example of how the Keller Williams culture lives and breathes service year-round," said Trudy Padilla of Keller Williams Atlantic Partners.

Over 40 volunteers spent the day landscaping, performing yard cleanups and some needed cleaning the apartment homes.

RED Day sponsors included Southern Horticulture, LunsPro Inspections, Pro-Spect Inspection and Scott Golmic with The Realestateographers. Live music was provided by New Guys on the Dock.

Claudia Marcus is Southern Villas’ Services Coordinator from the St Johns County Counsel on Aging.

“It was a wonderful day. The residents and property had numerous tasks completed by teams of volunteers. They arrived with a spirit of giving back and really made a difference to the delight of the residents,” added Marcus.

SJHP currently owns over 80 multi-family and single-family rental properties in Clay, Putnam and St Johns County. SJHP staff including Marlee Tompkins, Sherry Harrison and Gina Birmingham coordinated the day’s activities.

The housing partnership is committed to developing and preserving quality housing while providing support for residents with low and moderate incomes, the elderly, disabled and Veterans. 

They work every day to redefine affordable, low-income housing by acquiring, repairing and renovating existing housing, as well as building new affordable rental and for sale properties.

RED Day was founded in 2009 to uphold KW’s philanthropic responsibilities to the communities they serve. It is also a celebration of the birthday of former CEO of Keller Williams and passionate builder and company culture champion, Mo Anderson.

If you have a club, organization, church or civic group that would like to do a SJHP volunteer day visit https://www.sjhp.org/volunteers-needed/, call (904) 824-0902 or email info@sjhp.org.

St. Johns Housing Partnership Looking to Benefit from Local Giving Day

ST. AUGUSTINE – The St. Johns Housing Partnership (SJHP), helping people live safer, healthier and independently with dignity, is one of the local nonprofits looking to benefit from this week’s Giving Day, May 7-8.

Giving Day 2025 is a 24-hour online giving event designed to empower every person to give back to their community by supporting local nonprofits and the causes they care about. Affordable, safe housing is an ongoing challenge for many in North Florida.

Founded in 1998, the St. Johns Housing Partnership is committed to developing and preserving quality housing while providing support for residents with low and moderate incomes, the elderly, disabled and Veterans.

SJHP is striving to redefine affordable housing by advocating for those with low incomes, the elderly, disabled and Veterans severely impacted by the absence of affordable housing or can’t afford to repair their home to make it livable and healthy.

SJHP works tirelessly to ensure every person has a safe, clean, affordable place to live.

“Housing is the reason we exist and the reason we show up every single day. We know that you cannot build a life without a safe and affordable home,” said SJHP Executive Director Bill Lazar.

Since its inception in 2019, this event grew from an idea to help local people give wisely, to a movement that has inspired a broad culture of community-wide giving. During Giving Day 2025, everyone can be a philanthropist; every dollar will make a difference.

Giving Day 2025 is made possible through a unique partnership — hosted by the John 1:16 Foundation and sponsored by Endless Summer Realty (ESR) and The FOCUS Group (TFG).

Giving Day is a 24-hour online donation drive from May 7- May 8 – 12 p.m. -12 p.m.. Donate or learn more at https://www.sjhp.org/.

Plan to Attend the 46th Historic Springfield Home Tour, April 26 and 27

 

JACKSONVILLE - Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council and M&M Homes present the 46th Historic Springfield Tour of Homes and Gardens on Saturday-Sunday, April 26-27, 2025 from 12 PM to 5 PM each day.

Explore Jacksonville's oldest suburb and take a peek behind the porches! This year's tour features eight historic homes, including a home that formerly served as the Cuban Consulate, and two homes that demonstrate an in-progress restoration at Dancy Terrace, one of the country’s oldest remaining bungalow courts. 

Homes are open 12-5 PM each day and homeowners are present to answer questions and offer a look inside. Check-in at the SPAR Building (1321 N Main Street) for tickets or purchase in advance at SpringfieldTour.com.

In addition to the beautified homes, guests can enjoy live music and the Springfield Scoops ice cream truck at the garden courtyard of the Zen Garden Apartments. Icy Chics will also be serving sweet treats at Dancy Terrace. 

Guests can extend their tour by visiting local businesses, many of which are offering promotions and discounts to guests with a tour map including 1748 Bakehouse, Ashanti Boutique and Emporium, Corner on Main, Karpeles Grand, Meta Earth, Stumpy’s Hatchet House, Tulua Bistro, Underground Markets, and more.

Tickets are $20 if purchased in advance and $25 if purchased the day of the tour. Guests receive a tour map and guide at check-in at the SPAR Building (1321 N Main Street). Guests may choose to walk, bike, drive, or use our complimentary shuttle service.

Visit SpringfieldTour.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

 

‘Affordable Housing Matters’ Podcast Debuts with First Episode Featuring UF’s Anne Ray

ST. AUGUSTINE — Creative Public Media today announced the launch of Affordable Housing Matters, a new podcast that pulls back the curtain on issues and challenges involved in solving the affordable housing crisis.

Hosted by Bill Lazar, executive director of the St. Johns Housing Partnership in St. Augustine, Fla., the series digs into the trends, strategies, and mindsets that face communities, housing leaders, the government, builders, developers and architects in creating and maintaining affordable housing.

The inaugural episode features Anne Ray, the manager of the Florida Housing Data Clearinghouse at University of Florida’s Shimberg Center for Housing Studies.

She directs the Center’s statewide Rental Market Study and has performed research on preservation of assisted rental housing, public housing, the housing needs of persons with disabilities, farmworker housing, and states’ implementation of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.

Previously, she worked for the Family Housing Fund in Minneapolis. Ms. Ray holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Affordable Housing Matters episodes are available anytime on the SJHP web site at www.sjhp.org and on PodBean at https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-zrcrr-1773b4b.