It was a big evening for ArtistWorks instructors at the 31st Annual IBMA International Bluegrass Awards held Thursday, Oct. 1 at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville! We would like to extend a big congratulations to both ArtistWorks bass virtuoso Missy Raines for winning ‘Bass Player of the Year’, and ArtistWorks fiddle icon Darol Anger for winning the prestigious ‘Distinguished Achievement Award’.

Due to COVID precautions, the famed “biggest night in bluegrass” was adapted to a virtual setting and broadcast from an empty Ryman Auditorium, but that didn’t stop the organizers from delivering an action-packed night! The one-of-a-kind show featured performances from all six Entertainer of the Year nominees, tributes to Doc Watson and J.D. Crowe, celebrations of women in bluegrass, a 20 anniversary nod to the incredible O Brother, Where Art Thou? movie soundtrack, a heartfelt 75th anniversary salute to the birth of bluegrass and much more.

In the memorable tribute to Doc Watson, ArtistWorks bluegrass guitar master Bryan Sutton, along with the other five Guitar Player of the Year nominees, took  turns virtually swapping solos on “Black Mountain Rag,” with T. Michael Coleman—Watson’s longtime friend and bandmate—keeping them all together through the webcams and headphones. 

In December of 1945, bluegrass was born on the famed stage of the Ryman Auditorium via the legendary Bill Monroe. As IBMA Executive Director Paul Schiminger said in his speech from the Ryman stage, despite the pandemic, returning to the birthplace of the genre was “an unexpected gift through it all.”

Interested in learning from master musicians like Missy Raine, Darol Anger or Bryan Sutton? Check out a free sample lesson and learn from these amazing instructors. Then, when you’re ready, come check out our full online music lessons catalog and join the ArtistWorks family.