Recognizing artists and business professionals in the early years of their bluegrass music careers
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (September 26, 2018) – The International Bluegrass Music
Association (IBMA) has announced the recipients of the 2018 Momentum Awards, awarded at
a luncheon today at the World of Bluegrass Business Conference at the Raleigh Convention
Center in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Momentum Awards focus on artists and industry professionals who are in the early stages
of their bluegrass music careers. There are five performance awards: one each for Band and
Vocalist, and three for Instrumentalist. Three more awards recognize industry achievement:
Industry Involvement, Mentor and Festival/Event/Venue.
The Mentor Award is the one Momentum Award that recognizes veteran bluegrass
professionals, where they have made significant contributions fostering excellence in young
bluegrass performers and members of the industry.
Nominees and recipients are selected by a multiple committee-driven process. Regional and
local associations — as well as all IBMA members — are encouraged to identify serious
emerging artists and leaders for consideration. With the exception of the Mentor category,
anyone previously nominated for an IBMA Award may not be considered for a Momentum
Award.
The 2018 Momentum Awards recipients:
Event/Festival/Venue of the Year
SamJam Bluegrass Festival – Piketon, Ohio
Industry Involvement
Adam Chowning and Megan Lynch Chowning (music camp founders/owners, artists) –
Goodlettsville, Tennessee
Mentor
Pete Wernick (Wernick Method Camps, Hot Rize, past IBMA Board President)
Band
The Trailblazers (North Carolina)
Instrumentalist (3 recipients in this category)
Aynsley Porchak (fiddle)
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes (fiddle)
David Benedict (mandolin)
Vocalist
Daniel Thrailkill (The Trailblazers)
