Steamboat Mountain Music Festival was a joyous celebration of local and regional music. The volunteers, performers, and audience were enthusiastic and numerous. All these elements added up to a successful July 6th event in Edgewater. At the festival, a silent auction and fifty-fifty draws were dedicated to a special music bursary fund. For the second straight year, Steamboat Mountain Music Society has raised enough funds to offer a bursary to assist musicians with their musical education and development.

Last year this bursary was awarded to two musicians. Eli Beingessner is a dynamic, young singer-songwriter who used his bursary to assist in production of his first CD.  Mickey Maione is a seasoned performer whose elderly Gibson guitar was rebuilt with his bursary funding. This year, the Steamboat Society looks forward to investing again in the future of the valley’s music scene.

Attention aspiring musicians: applications are now open. These bursary funds may be used for musical programs of all types: short workshops, music camps, courses, individual or group lessons, master classes, college or university music programs. All forms of music, all types of musical learning aspirations are included: playing technique, theory, composing, and performing. Rental or upgrading costs of a musical instrument, or assistance with album production costs may also be considered.

Applicants must live in the Columbia Valley region. Musicians of all levels will be considered. Beginners as well as experienced players of any age may apply.

Applications must be submitted no later than September 30th, and candidates will be notified by October 31st, 2013. Funds awarded must be used by the recipient before the end of the 2014 calendar year.

For further information about this bursary, please phone Anne at 250-347-9860.  Application forms and full information are available through the Steamboat Mountain Music Festival website at www.steamboatmtnmusicfest.ca.