Willa Beach-Porter CTBA Music Scholarship
Bluegrass will survive and thrive only if talented young musicians carry it forward into the future. To this end, the Central Texas Bluegrass Association has established the Willa Beach-Porter CTBA Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarship awards to students who have demonstrated a serious interest in studying music.
About Willa Beach-Porter
This scholarship is named in honor of Willa Beach-Porter (June 10, 1951 to January 29, 2005), a long-time supporter of bluegrass music and of the Central Texas Bluegrass Association. Willa was a wonderful fiddler and a great person, and she is missed by all who were lucky enough to know her. The CTBA gratefully acknowledges very generous contributions from Willa’s father, Renfroe Ross Beach, and other family members in support of this scholarship program.
The Willa Beach-Porter CTBA Scholarship Program is managed and approved by the CTBA Scholarship Committee and Board of Directors. Each year, the program provides scholarships in full or in part to music camps, CTBA-selected bluegrass camps, and/or online learning resources. Any Texas resident aged 12 to 18 is invited to apply for tuition plus room and board to any bluegrass-related resource of their choosing.
How to apply
For consideration, please submit (1) an application and (2) two letters of recommendation.
- Submit an application online
- Download an application to submit by mail (PDF)
- Submit a letter of recommendation online
- Download a letter of recommendation form to submit by mail (PDF)
Meet our latest recipients
Simon Welch, 17, Austin
Simon is a high school student from the Greater Austin Metro Area who got his start on guitar several years ago. During the last year and a half, he has found particular joy in pursuing the mandolin and banjo at home and at the Batch Jam on Sunday afternoons. He is very excited to attend the Mando & Banjo Week at the Swannanoa Gathering as a Willa Beach-Porter Scholarship recipient, and is grateful to the CTBA for all their support!
Gus Lovicott, 13, Austin
“Hi, I’m Gus Lovicott, and I’m 13. I started playing music at age 4 when I joined a local fiddle group, and at 6, I discovered the banjo, which I’ve been playing ever since. I enjoy playing at bluegrass jams and would like to thank the Austin bluegrass community for being so supportive. I am excited to go to Béla Fleck’s Banjo Camp in North Carolina this summer, where I look forward to learning different skills and growing as a musician.”
The Willa Beach-Porter Scholarship has been helping educate Texas’ next generation of Bluegrass musicians for more than twenty years. Meet our past recipients.
Help send the next picker to camp
Scholarships are funded entirely by CTBA memberships and donations. Please contact us when you give to make sure your contribution goes to the scholarship fund.