Last Thursday, September 30, 2021, the International Bluegrass Music Association hosted the 2021 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, celebrating the bluegrass genre, its premiere artists, and their achievements and contributions to music in the last year. We are beyond excited and proud to announce that two of our master instructors here at ArtistWorks—Sierra Hull and Missy Raines—were recognized and took home awards.

Virtuoso mandolinist and ArtistWorks bluegrass mandolin instructor, Sierra Hull, was recognized as the 2021 “Mandolin Player of the Year,” making this her fourth victory in the category after winning three consecutive years in a row between 2016 and 2018.

Sierra was also a member of the band lineup that won the award for 2021 “Collaborative Recording of the Year.” Led by bluegrass legend Bobby Osborne, the group was recognized for their outstanding bluegrass rendition of Merle Haggard’s 1969 classic “White Line Fever,” and featured an all-star band consisting of Sierra Hull on mandolin, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Trey Hensley on acoustic guitar, Todd Philips on upright bass, and Alison Brown on banjo.

LEARN MORE: Want to learn how to play bluegrass mandolin from a master musician like Sierra Hull? Try a free mandolin lesson now!

Acoustic upright bass master and ArtistWorks bluegrass instructor of ten years, Missy Raines, took home her ninth “Bass Players of the Year” award at the ceremony, reaffirming her status once again as the most decorated bass player in the history of the International Bluegrass Music Association.

LEARN MORE: Want to learn upright bass from a master musician like Missy Raines? Try a free online bass lesson now!

Congratulations to Sierra, Missy, and all of this year’s IBMA Bluegrass Music Award winners! We deeply appreciate all of your wonderful contributions to the world of music, art, and the bluegrass genre. The musical landscape would not look the same without you.

Below is a comprehensive list of all of the 2021 IBMA Bluegrass Music Award winners:

• Entertainer of the Year: Billy Strings
• Vocal Group of the Year: Sister Sadie
• Instrumental Group of the Year: Appalachian Road Show
• Song of the Year: "Richest Man," Balsam Range (artist), Jim Beavers/Jimmy Yeary/Connie Harrington (songwriters), Balsam Range (producer), Mountain Home Records (label)
• Album of the Year: Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio’s Musical Legacy,  Various Artists, Joe Mullins (producer), Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
• Gospel Recording of the Year (tie): “After While,” Dale Ann Bradley; “In the Resurrection Morning,” Sacred Reunion featuring Doyle Lawson, Vince Gill, Barry Abernathy, Tim Stafford, Mark Wheeler, Jim VanCleve, Phil Leadbetter, Jason Moore
• Instrumental Recording of the Year: “Ground Speed," Kristin Scott Benson, Skip Cherryholmes, Jeremy Garrett, Kevin Kehrberg, Darren Nicholson
• New Artist of the Year: Appalachian Road Show
• Collaborative Recording of the Year: “White Line Fever,” Bobby Osborne with Tim O’Brien, Trey Hensley, Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan, Todd Phillips, Alison Brown
• Female Vocalist of the Year: Dale Ann Bradley
• Male Vocalist of the Year (tie): Danny Paisley, Del McCoury
• Banjo Player of the Year: Scott Vestal
• Bass Player of the Year: Missy Raines
• Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year: Justin Moses
• Fiddle Player of the Year: Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
• Guitar Player of the Year: Billy Strings
• Mandolin Player of the Year: Sierra Hull

LEARN MORE ABOUT MANDOLIN & UPRIGHT BASS LESSONS AT ARTISTWORKS:

Have you always wanted to learn how to play bluegrass mandolin or upright bass? Through our comprehensive online mandolin lessons or online bass lessons, and Video Exchange Learning platform here at ArtistWorks, you can learn from internationally renowned players, like Sierra Hull and Missy Raines, and get personal feedback on your playing.

Sierra and Missy’s courses each start with the basics and teach everything from beginner mandolin and upright bass to advanced performance techniques and tunes. So, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player, all levels are welcome and all students will grow and improve their skills as mandolinists or bassists, and as musicians!

Try out some free sample music lessons here and see what makes ArtistWorks courses some of the best online music lessons around!

READ MORE:

“Bluegrass Mandolin with Sierra Hull” is Now Open!

Try Our Free Bluegrass Technique Builder Lessons

Acoustic Bluegrass Bass Lesson: Finding Your Playing Position with Missy Raines