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OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) — Owensboro Community & Technical College and Brescia University are planning to join forces to offer degrees in bluegrass music.
The Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer reports (http://bit.ly/1Rp7Bl2) the college is working to create an associate degree program that officials hope to have up and running by spring 2017.
The idea is that students could study two years at the college and then transfer to Brescia to earn a bachelor of fine arts degree in bluegrass.
"We're always looking for new things that would help us and help the community," said Sister Cheryl Clemons, vice president for academic affairs at Brescia. "We gave up our baccalaureate in music a few years ago. But we've looked for ways to bring it back. And this is a way."
Darryl Dewayne Dockery, an instructor of music at Brescia who performed on the Grand Ole Opry with the Crossmen Quartet, is creating course work for the degree program.
"We'll be offering courses that will prepare students who are interested in the music business — whether it be as a performer, producer, management or recording engineer," Dockery said.
The schools hope to take advantage of the resources at the International Bluegrass Music Center, a $15.4 million project also slated to open in 2017. The center will be the new home of the International Bluegrass Music Museum and also include a concert hall, restaurant, teaching rooms and a library.
"We couldn't do this without the bluegrass center," Clemons said. "They'll have recording and performance space. And it's just five blocks away. Acts that come through town will be asked to do mini-workshops for our students."
Terry Woodward is vice chairman of the International Bluegrass Music Museum's board of trustees is also excited about the possibilities.
"When we have music camps and when we bring artists in, they can piggyback with us and have them for their classes," Woodward said. "I think it will be great for Owensboro and the colleges. There should be some great synergy."
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Information from: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, http://www.messenger-inquirer.com
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