THE EDWARD J. WARD IRISH MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP

The Edward J. Ward Irish Music Scholarship was established in 1989 by resolution of the Board of Directors of Irish Festivals, Inc., to honor Ed Ward, founder of the Milwaukee Irish Fest and promoter of various Irish activities in the Milwaukee area.

The $1,000 yearly scholarship is to be used for the study of Irish instrumental music or song. Applicants may be of any age or ethnic background and need not be residents of the Milwaukee area.

The Scholarship Committee anticipates announcing the Scholarship recipient during the festival.

Further information and applications can be obtained by writing to the Scholarship/Grant Committee at Irish Fest, 1532 Wauwatosa Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53213, by emailing us at info@irishfest.com, or by calling the Irish Fest office at (414) 476-3378 during regular business hours.

Examples of past scholarships:

• Instrumental lessons
• Sean Nos lessons
• Study & Compilations of Session Tunes

2009 MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

The Winner of the 2008 Ed Ward Music Scholarship is Amy Richter. She has been playing Irish music for five years. Amy began by attending the Irish Fest Summer School in 2003 taking beginning bodhrán and has attended the IFSS every year since, always participating in the highest level bodhrán class in hopes to better her playing and knowledge of the instrument and the music. This year Paul Marshall, instructor of the 2008 advanced bodhrán class, has asked her to join him as an instructor. She plays in the local band áthas (www.athasmusic.com). Their performances this August at Milwaukee Irish Fest will mark their third year together.

In part due to her experience with áthas she had the honor of playing alongside John Whelan at the annual MidWinter Set Dance Weekend for the past three years. In 2006 she achieved the title of MidWest Bodhrán Champion in the adult division. She went on to represent Milwaukee and compete in the All Irelands in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. In 2004 she spent a month studying Irish music at the University of Limerick under Niall Keegan and Sandra Joyce. This past winter she went to Ireland with her bandmates to attend the Frankie Kennedy Winter School and work on the recording for the Paul Phillips Scholarship Fund.

Amy is currently a bodhrán teacher for the Irish Fest School of Music and has taught bodhrán workshops for the Wisconsin Highland Games. In the spring of 2005 Amy graduated from UW-Milwaukee with a Bachelors degree and has received the Certificate in Celtic Studies.

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