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Jessica Lang, a sophomore at Belmont University originally from Wake Forest, North Carolina, will receive the Rick Lang Music Songwriter Scholarship. This scholarship recognizes an IBMA member planning to study songwriting at college. A talented lead guitarist as well as a singer-songwriter, Jessica plans to study both publishing and music, and will continue to perform with the college bluegrass ensemble. She is a part of Belmont University’s honors program and is scheduled to study abroad in Belfast, Ireland, in 2022, where she will be immersed in traditional folk and Celtic music and begin work on her honors thesis project. Beginning with the guitar at age nine, Lang participated in the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program, as well as educational opportunities hosted by PineCone in Raleigh. Lang joined the IBMA Kids on Bluegrass program in 2016, was a part of the IBMA Songwriter Showcase in 2019, and has recorded with both the Lang Sisters and the Carolina PineCones. After Belmont, Jessica hopes to pursue graduate studies, possibly in ethnomusicology or music therapy. She was a Sally Ann Forrester Scholarship recipient in 2020. The Rick Lang Music Songwriter Scholarship is funded by Rick and Wendy Lang (who are not related to Jessica). Rick Lang is a Grammy-nominated writer, chair of the IBMA Songwriter Committee, and a volunteer with the IBMA Songwriter Mentor Program.
Additional contributions to the IBMA Foundation’s scholarships are welcome. Permanent endowments at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee have been established to fund at least one IBMA Bluegrass College Scholarship and Sally Ann Forrester Scholarship in perpetuity. The IBMA Foundation supports programs and initiatives fostering the growth of bluegrass music, helping donors to create a legacy for future generations by connecting resources to projects that focus on bluegrass music-related arts and culture, education, literary work, and historic preservation.
RETURN to the August 2021 issue of The Cornerstone.
Additional contributions to the IBMA Foundation’s scholarships are welcome. Permanent endowments at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee have been established to fund at least one IBMA Bluegrass College Scholarship and Sally Ann Forrester Scholarship in perpetuity. The IBMA Foundation supports programs and initiatives fostering the growth of bluegrass music, helping donors to create a legacy for future generations by connecting resources to projects that focus on bluegrass music-related arts and culture, education, literary work, and historic preservation.
RETURN to the August 2021 issue of The Cornerstone.
Enjoy the show!
Additionally, here is the Belmont University Live Stream Link where you can watch recordings of all university ensemble performances.
Additionally, here is the Belmont University Live Stream Link where you can watch recordings of all university ensemble performances.
I'm so grateful to have received the IBMA Foundation Rick Lang Songwriting Scholarship for the upcoming school year, and wanted to share a new song. I was inspired by the book There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones, and the thought-provoking series The Chosen. This past year has been challenging for most of us, and I hope this song can be a source of comfort for anyone who has been struggling with issues of faith and finding hope! Preston Thompson Guitars
Tosco Music Party September 2019
Such an honor to perform at Tosco Music Party this September! Beautiful venue and wonderful audience; can't wait to return.
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March 08, 2020 - For International Women's Day, I wanted to post my recent cover of Frozen II's, "All Is Found", written by one of my favorite female songwriters and composers, Kristen-Anderson Lopez. Her works and lyrics inspire me to keep pursuing my passion for music and composing in hopes that I can write music about my own life, as well as music for movies and television to make a story come alive. This was my last Broadway Night as a senior in high school, and it was very special to me to perform a song from a movie and a songwriter that has made such a great impact on my life!
Swannanoa Gathering Guitar/Contemporary Folk Week 2019
Performing one of my original songs with International Fingerstyle Guitar Champion and Award Winning Singer/Songwriter, Christie Lenée, was the highlight of my Swannanoa Gathering Guitar/Contemporary Folk week.
Tell Me A Story
So excited to share this audio file with you. I had the privilege of co-writing Tell Me a Story with one of my good friends, the prolific songwriter, Rick Lang last year.
Promotional Video: