The Berea College Bluegrass Ensemble presents its annual spring concert on Saturday, April 16. The 8 p.m. performance is scheduled in Gray Auditorium of Presser Music Building. Admission is free and all are invited.

2011 Bluegrass Ensemble

The Berea College Bluegrass Ensemble was founded in the fall of 1999 to give Berea College students with backgrounds or potential in bluegrass music an opportunity to play in a bluegrass band with weekly rehearsals, performances and travel. The group’s founder, Al White, has performed professionally with many bluegrass bands including the Bluegrass Alliance and the McLain Family Band, and teaches Appalachian instruments at Berea College.

Members are selected by audition, and typically remain with the group until they graduate from Berea College. Members also earn academic credit for each semester of participation in the group. The band’s recent tour of Japan marked its second visit there, the first being in 2006.

The Bluegrass Ensemble toured Ireland in 2004 and 2007. The group performs for many functions at Berea College and has also performed at Campbell Folk School in North Carolina, and at East Tennessee State University. The group has just returned from performing concerts at Glenville State College and in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Band members include: Sam Gleaves; banjo, Christina Mauro; lead singing, Willie Dodson; guitar, Myra Morrison; fiddle, Hannah Johnson; bass, and Al White on mandolin and fiddle.