The 2017 Blues Youth Showcase representative…

The Blues Society of Western PA’s mission is to preserve and promote the Blues genre of music. One effort that the BSWPA embraces to fulfill that mission is to encourage young players to play the Blues. The BSWPA in developing the idea to ‘play the music forward’ has hosted youth blues jams and has sponsored many Blues in the Schools programs. One such effort involves sending a youth act annually to participate in the Youth Blues Showcase that is hosted during the International Blues Challenge. In lieu of a Youth Blues Challenge, the BSWPA decided to choose an act to represent Western PA. The BSWPA’s board set a criteria to follow while exploring the field of candidates. The purpose of sending an act to Memphis to participate in the Youth Showcase is to create a spark in one youth(s) that will encourage other young people to seek out the Blues. The act chosen will have the opportunity to explore Beale Street, watch seasoned players play the Blues and learn from what they see and hear while there. While participating in the Youth Showcase, the young players do not compete. The Youth representatives each give a 20 minute set to showcase what they do in front of blues fans and players from around the world. The BSWPA had its work cut out for it… reviewing many acts (solos and bands) and deciding whom to choose. It was an extremely difficult decision. Many factors were weighed in the decision process. The Blues Society of Western PA is thrilled to announce…. 2017 Youth Blues Showcase representative will be …..Pierce Dipner. Pierce has attended many Blues jams and many Blues shows. He has watched, engaged, asked questions at every turn. Who is Pierce Dipner???? Pierce Dipner is 12 years old and in the 7th grade at Mellon Middle School in Mount Lebanon. He started playing guitar when he was 8 years old. He sang for the first time while playing on stage when he was 9 years old. He had his first Blues exposure when he participated in a Blues Society of Western PA Youth Jam when he was 10 years old. He has loved playing and singing the Blues ever since. ~William Dipner, father Join us as WE, the Blues Society of Western PA, play the music forward one young player at a time.