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Press Release
April 2009
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Pocahontas Music - established two years ago and operated by two volunteers, founder Lucinda Tyler and teacher Lois Airgood - was awarded a $16,885 grant from the West Virginia Humanities Council along with Pocahontas County Drama, Fairs and Festivals, Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau and The Pocahontas County Arts Council, in support of "Teaching the Origin of Appalachia Music through a four-month Workshop."
The Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Foundation is the sponsoring organization for this grant. It is hoped that this experience will enable Pocahontas Music, Hillsboro Elementary's third-, fourth- and fifth-graders, to reach new audiences and to inform the community about the success these students are having learning about their Appalachian roots, both lyrically and musically. This process will inspire the students to further understandings and collaborations.
West Virginian musicians Kate Long and Robin Kessinger are the honorarians conducting the workshop. In tandem they want to help the students be links in a chain of traditional songwriters. Long, widely acclaimed for her singing, song writing and music workshops, is working with the students to develop their own songs about their heritage.
Local musicians are also doing their part in the workshop. Recently visited were string instrument teacher Alan Duchess and Marlinton store owner and guitar player Terry Richardson. Scheduled to appear are the Hefner family, guitar playing and harmony singers, and dulcimer player Maria Busic.
Also scheduled to participate is another honoraria, West Virginia poet Kirk Judd. The climax of the workshop will be a demonstration May 8 on the Great Lawn of the Pearl Buck House.
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