Owensboro Community & Technical College’s Capital Bluegrass and Traditional Music Program received a major boost Thursday with a $20,000 contribution to help build a state-of-the-art recording studio on campus.
The funds were presented during a check ceremony at the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce’s Rooster Booster breakfast, marking another step in the broader Bluegrass Music Capital initiative backed by state leaders and private donors.
OCTC President Scott Williams said the studio will give students hands-on experience while further cementing Owensboro’s role in the future of bluegrass.
“Because of these individuals and many others in our community, we will soon provide our students and the next generation of bluegrass music industry professionals with a state-of-the-art rehearsal studio where they can learn, grow, and hone their craft,” Williams said.
Williams credited local funders Mike Simpson and Matt Hayden, the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, and Kentucky’s legislative delegation for championing the initiative through House Bill 1 in the 2024 General Assembly. He noted that House Caucus Chair Rep. Suzanne Miles led the charge to secure the $500,000 state allocation for the Bluegrass Music Capital initiative, with support from Sen. Gary Boswell, Rep. D.J. Johnson, and Rep. Scott Lewis.
Steve Johnson, who helps lead the Bluegrass Music Capital initiative, said the funding represents one of several projects designed to build the infrastructure needed to support Owensboro’s reputation as the “bluegrass capital of the world.”
“It obviously doesn’t cover the cost of the entire project, but it does demonstrate support from the Bluegrass Music Initiative to what they’re doing at OCTC,” Johnson said. “If we’re going to say we’re the bluegrass music capital of the world, you better be able to back that up.”
The $20,000 allocation is part of the larger $500,000 commitment supporting projects from public art to new music programs.
Scott Napier, director of the Capital Bluegrass and Traditional Music Program, said the new studio will be housed in OCTC’s Humanities Building. It will provide students with professional-level recording experiences while doubling as a community resource.
“Students can come through our program and leave with a free album, because they record for free during their classwork and get credit for it,” Napier said. “It creates that professional experience for the students while they’re here, with something tangible they can use.”
Napier said the program has already grown to include two student bands that regularly perform at community events. He hopes the new studio will be completed as early as next summer.
“Owensboro is the perfect place for this program,” Napier said. “The International Bluegrass Music Association started right here, and we have the Hall of Fame, ROMP Festival, and so many national acts that come through. I can’t think of a better town in America to have a program like this.”
By: John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times