A young local trio, Sheberdean, was selected as the winner of the second annual Steamboat Mountain Music Bursary.

The funds will enable the three musicians — Dean Kendrick, Sylvia Power and Aaron Sherban — to attend the Nimble Fingers Music Camp in Sorrento, B.C. next summer.

The three have been playing together for only a few months, but they have been picking up gigs at weddings and parties, and have played at many community events, including the Spilli Chili Cook-off, the Radium Rifle Competition, and Busy Bee Family Day in Edgewater.

They are building their repertoire and reputation as well as their musical skills. At Nimble Fingers, they hope to work with some of the best teachers and performers, to learn new tunes and techniques, and to hone their skills in a week long immersion setting.

The bursary was  established after the inaugural Steamboat Mountain Music Festival in 2012 as a fund to assist Columbia Valley musicians of any age to pursue their music education and develop their skills and abilities. This year, the bursary funds were raised by 50-50 draws and a silent auction, which ran during the July 6th, 2013 Steamboat Mountain Music Festival. These activities built up enough revenue to create an award of $1,000.

The Steamboat Mountain Music Society wishes Sheberdean all the best in their musical development as they nimble up their fingers. The group has been booked to play at the Society’s Annual General Meeting, which will be held at 7 p.m. on January 31st at the Edgewater Community Hall.

A Steamboat Mountain Music Society membership drive will be opening up early in the new year at the January 31st Steamboat Mountain Music Society AGM. The annual fee for membership is $5, but that entitles the member to a $5 discount on festival tickets, so it is a good deal. Volunteers receive free membership and free entry to the festival, which makes volunteering an even better deal, although it does involve a bit of work.

Festival volunteers will be needed for gate, grounds, green room, CD sales, traffic control, set-up, take-down, and stage crew for the festival weekend.

Those interested in volunteering or becoming members for 2014, please contact Roberta Hall at 250-347-6404.

The 2014 Steamboat Mountain Music Festival dates have been set for Saturday, July 5th and Sunday, July 6th. Planning is already underway. Local performers who wish to be considered for the 2014 line-up are asked to contact the organizing committee through the website link.

Early bird festival tickets are already on sale. The tickets make great stocking stuffers for the music lovers of the valley, and the early bird revenues will go toward deposits for festival infrastructure such as sound and stage rental, insurance, and event permits. Buy your early bird tickets by calling Barb Neraasen at 250-347-7757 or Anne Jardine at 250-347-9860.

Look for more news about the festival in the spring as the performance program takes shape by visiting www.steamboatmtnmusicfest.ca.

BY ANNE JARDINE

Steamboat Mountain Music Society