Leadership Bluegrass: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders

“Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes?”

That George Jones country classic has been covered by Bluegrass artists Ricky Skaggs and Mo Pitney, The Steep Canyon Rangers and others. 

In a real sense, the International Bluegrass Music Association also is taking action to answer that song’s question. Through Leadership Bluegrass, IBMA is identifying and developing the next generation of leaders for the music’s future.

Leadership Bluegrass selects a 25-member class each year. In just over a quarter century, the program has graduated more than 500 alumni from all sectors of the Bluegrass community.

Participants take part in an intensive three-day program to enhance their leadership and networking skills. They broaden their understanding of the business of Bluegrass and the music’s place in the world of entertainment.

“Seeing the Leadership Bluegrass participant list each year gives me real hope for the future of our industry,” said Ken White, IBMA Executive Director. “This year’s class highlights the growing global reach of Bluegrass, bringing together industry professionals from Quebec, British Columbia, Switzerland, Australia and the United States. Their diverse experiences and perspectives will help guide the future of Bluegrass music.”

This year’s class met March 2-4 in Nashville. Jeff Westerinem served as facilitator and Nancy Posey was assistant facilitator. Panels and discussion topics included (insert info to come later this week from Haley Grimm, IBMA’s Leadership Bluegrass staff liaison), and possibly Jordan Laney, Leadership Bluegrass Planning Committee Chair.

Alum Donna Ulisse, songwriter artist on Turnberry Records and co-CEO of Tall Oaks Publishing, recalled her participation as a “high level crash course in Bluegrass.” 

A member of the program’s Class of 2010, Ulisse had just come from the country music world with Atlantic Records. She said she learned a lot about doing social media and publicity, dealing with promotion and booking agencies, and other aspects of the industry that require more direct involvement by Bluegrass artists.

Ulisse said meeting Leadership Bluegrass panelist Doyle Lawson had a big influence on her career. “We talked about how he goes about selecting songs,” she said. “That discussion started our friendship and led to his producing my records. I’m now proud to be his business partner in Tall Oaks Publishing.” 

Jerry Salley—songwriter/artist/producer and Creative Director/Head of A&R for Billy Blue Records—was in the Leadership Bluegrass Class of 2011. “I made lasting relationships in that group,” he said. “One of the greatest things about the program is that you work with and continue to be friends with those folks for the rest of your life.”

 “We had speakers and discussions about how record labels operate, artists and their needs, challenges that booking agents face, venue owners and how they do business, and the work of songwriters, publishers, and broadcasters,” Salley said. “It’s an opportunity to get to know more about every single facit of the industry.”

“None of us can succeed without the others,” Salley said. “In Leadership Music, you learn how people navigate their aspect of the industry and how we can work together more effectively.”

Online applications for Leadership Bluegrass open each fall on the IBMA website. The program is open to all professionals in Bluegrass—including artists, label managers, broadcasters, event promoters, publishers and songwriters.

Applicants must be at least 21 years old and have demonstrated leadership and potential for future contributions to the Bluegrass community. For each applicant, up to four letters of recommendation may be sent from industry colleagues.

Leadership Bluegrass Class of 2026

Congratulations to these members of IBMA’s Leadership Bluegrass Class of 2026:

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 (Stevensville, 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)