Kids’ Academy

An exciting trend at bluegrass festivals in recent years has been the rise of “kids’ academies” – programs designed to give young pickers an intensive but fun experience with other kids who share their interest in the music.

The Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival Kids’ Academy will be open to all kids ages 6 to 18 for fiddle (or viola), mandolin, guitar, banjo, resonator guitar, and bass (or cello).

We welcome back Sarah Larsen, teacher, award-winning contest fiddler having taken Grand Champion of the Lyons Fiddle Festival, and the Delaware State Championship, as our director in 2026. ​The Kids’ Academy will consist of five sessions that are each two hours long. Look for the area marked Kids’ Academy or ask at the Brandywine Friends booth for the location.

Beginners and more experienced players are welcome.Parents, please use judgment for very young beginners as to whether they are emotionally ready for this format of teaching. There is a registration fee of $35 per student, check payable to Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival, cash, or credit card. This will be collected in the instruction area on Friday evening.   Water will be provided. A free t-shirt is available to students who are enrolled online at least one week prior to the festival.  Others can be purchased from the shirt vendor at the festival.

Families that wish to apply for a scholarship with the Mandell Foundation can follow the link to the scholarships page and application – click “apply”.  Applications must be received in time to be processed and the academy notified directly by the foundation two weeks prior to the festival, so please allow plenty of time.  Scholarships not approved in advance of the festival will not be accepted.  https://www.commongroundonthehill.org/steve-mandell-memorial-music-scholarship  or learn more on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100044607955013

Students will need to bring:

• their own working instruments.
• snacks/drinks
• every guitar, banjo, and mandolin player will need to bring a strap.
• guitar and banjo players will need capos.
• extra strings for emergencies.
• tuners for students who can tune themselves are helpful but not required.

NEW THIS YEAR!

Square Dance

Back by popular demand, the Youth Academy Square Dance will take place on Saturday evening in the Youth Academy building on Saturday, from 5:30-6:30pm.

The dance will feature a live caller and music provided by Youth Academy faculty, and is open to all festival attendees age 17 and younger.
Come enjoy a quick “dance break”!

RISING PICKERS

Advanced Youth Ensemble

The Rising Pickers honors ensemble will return this year as an audition-based group for selected students. This year, the ensemble will be limited to one selectee per instrument. We’re pleased to announce that Ira Gitlin will return to the DelVal faculty as the Rising Pickers coach!

Auditioning students should be comfortable playing I, II, IV, V, and bVII chord progressions in the keys of F, G, A, B, Bb, C, D, and E, and should have working knowledge of scales and arpeggios in those keys.

Auditions will be held on Friday at 5:00 PM in the Youth Academy building, prior to the Academy’s first meeting. Students should come prepared to perform one song of their choosing in one of the keys listed above. In addition, students should prepare “Love and Wealth” in the keys of C and D.  

 By audition only – bring your A-game!