IBMA Announces 2020 Leadership Bluegrass Class

Pictured (L-R, front row): Abi Tapia, Amanda Thompson, Suzy Thompson, Angela Sommers Rees, Lauren Price Napier. (L-R, second row): Ethan Charles, Jennifer Danielson, Evie Ladin, Rebecca Frazier, Natalya Zoe Weinstein, Roxanne Tromly, Michelle Lee, Fred Knittel.(L-R, third row): Rick Faris, Marianne Kovatch, Dave Howard, Greg Garrison, Ned Luberecki, Didier Philippe. (L-R, back row): Benjamin Wright, Jake Blount, David Brower, Worth Dixon, Thomas Cassell, Ed Leonard.

The International Bluegrass Music Association is proud to announce the graduating class of Leadership Bluegrass 2020. This was the 21st year of Leadership Bluegrass, which now boasts over 500 alumni. The program was hosted at BMI in Nashville on March 2-4, with Kathy Hanson serving as the course facilitator and Jordan Laney serving as assistant facilitator.

The intensive, three-day program focuses on interactive learning and networking experiences and invites participants to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the bluegrass industry and pursue leadership development. Each year, participants are selected through a competitive application process and are a cross-section of current and future leaders from all areas of the industry, coming from various regions of the U.S. and the world.

Leadership Bluegrass 2020 graduates:
Jake Blount  – Jake Blount / Tui / The Moose Whisperers – Washington, D.C.
David Brower – PineCone / WUNC – Carrboro, NC
Thomas Cassell – Circus No. 9 – Johnson City, TN
Ethan Charles – International Bluegrass Music Association – Nashville, TN
Jennifer Danielson – Pandora – Nashville, TN
Worth Dixon – D’Addario & Company, Inc. – Farmingdale, NY
Rick Faris – Special Consensus – Topeka, KA
Rebecca Frazier – Rebecca Frazier and Hit & Run – Nashville, TN
Greg Garrison – Leftover Salmon / University of Colorado, Denver – Lakewood, CO
Dave Howard – Louisville Folk School – Louisville, KY
Fred Knittel – Smithsonian Folkways Recordings – Washington, D.C.
Marianne Kovatch – Blue Ridge Music Center – Winton-Salem, NC
Evie Ladin – Evie Ladin Band – Oakland, CA
Michelle Lee – WOBL / Bluegrass Borderline / Smoked Country Jam – Sheffield Lake, OH
Ed Leonard – Billy Blue Records – Hendersonville, TN
Ned Luberecki – Becky Buller Band / SiriusXM – Nashville, TN
Didier Philippe – La Roche Bluegrass Festival – Etaux, France
Lauren Price Napier – The Price Sisters – Hyden, KY
Angela Sommers Rees – Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival – Dorrigo, NSW, Australia
Brian Swenk – Big Daddy Love / Midwood Entertainment – Glen Allen, VA
Abi Tapia – Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum – Nashville, TN
Suzy Thompson – Berkeley Old Time Music Convention – Berkeley, CA
Amanda Thompson – Frankfort Bluegrass Festival – Mokena, IL
Roxanne Tromly – Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum / ROMP Fest – Owensboro, KY
Natalya Zoe Weinstein – Zoe & Cloyd / Warren Wilson College – Fairview, NC
Benjamin Wright – Henhouse Prowlers / Bluegrass Ambassadors – Chicago, IL

• Author
• Recent Posts

Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

Latest posts by Lorie Hollabaugh (see all)

• Industry Ink: Lainey Wilson, Carly Pearce, Cameron Whitcomb, More - October 26, 2026
• Country Thunder Arizona Reveals 2027 Lineup - October 26, 2026
• Gavin Adcock Launches New Western Lifestyle Brand Thrivin’ Here Co. - October 26, 2026