After an unexpectedly large payday, The Loblollies decided to donate their earnings to support PineCone’s Brad Farmer Memorial Scholarship Fund. The Loblollies are a Raleigh area youth bluegrass band made up of friends who met and started playing together at PineCone’s Bluegrass Camps.
The Brad Farmer Scholarships provides funding to local musicians who want to take lessons on fiddle, guitar, banjo or other string band instruments. It was named for Brad Farmer, a good friend to the local bluegrass community who passed away in the Fall of 2023.
“He was the first person to offer me a spot in the Bond Brothers House Band,” said Alanabeth Parker. “(It) was a big part of my professional development and my musical career.”
They’re teenagers and it would have been understandable if they spent the money on pizza, Amazon or at Harry’s Guitar Shop. But instead they voted to make a donation to help support music teachers like Brad and students interested in learning something new.
“We wanted to help honor Brad and continue his kind and supportive legacy,” added Issabelle Duncan. She plays fiddle in the Loblollies and helps lead PineCone’s monthly youth jams. “Brad was encouraging and supportive of all of us in the Loblollies.”
There’s information about how to request scholarship funding for private lessons here.