Congratulations to Wes Corbett, 2010 Amy Award Winner
 

The Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council and Bainbridge Performing Arts are pleased to announce that Bainbridge Island musician Wes Corbett has been named the 2010 Amy Award recipient.  Steven Fogell, Artistic Director for BPA, in describing the Amy Award said, "Our mission in picking the young artist to receive this award is to find someone passionate about their craft and continuing to further their artistic ability.  Wes Corbett is that passionate artist and we are proud to see him recognized as such.  Wes has shared his amazing musical talent with both Bainbridge Island and BPA for over eight years both in original music creations and local performances.  Wes Corbett and Simon Chrisman created the original score for the Peter Pan production that appeared in 2002 and 2009 on the BPA stage."

A native of Bainbridge Island, Wes Corbett began classical piano at the age of four but was converted to the banjo during high school, studying with Dave Keenan, Bill Evans, and Dennis Caplinger.  For the past four years Wes has been composing and arranging original music for banjo and hammered dulcimer with Simon Chrisman, also a native of Bainbridge.  They recorded an album with guitarist Jordan Tice, which was released on Patuxent in 2007 and was in the Chicago Tribune's list of the top five acoustic records of 2008.

In the past several years Wes has appeared with numerous musicians and bands, including the David Grisman Quintet, Matt Glaser, the Mike Marshall and Darrel Anger duo, and Crooked Still.  Since relocating to Jamaica Plain, MA in the fall of 2006, he has opened for Tony Rice with Lincoln Meyers and String Alliance, and toured internationally with Biscuit Burners.

Wes is featured on new CD releases with his bands Joy Kills Sorrow and The Bee Eaters.  For more information on Wes Corbett and each band, visit www.beeeaters.com and www.joykillssorrow.com.

The Amy Award has been presented to eight talented artists since 2001, all of whom have continued to work in their chosen field - sculpture artist Gregory Glynn, performing artist Vince Palazzolo-Packard, musician Korum Bischoff, sculptor Solia Hermes, videographer Jessica Tuffley, choreographer Rain Ross, printmaker Tracy Lang, performing artist Claire Hosterman, and photographer Jonathan Hallet.

The winner receives a cash award and an Amy Award ceramic tile inspired by Amy Anderson and created by Woodward Middle School students. This annual award for young artists is funded by an endowment established by David and Caren Anderson, in honor of their late daughter. She was involved in the visual and performing arts and the award is a fitting tribute to her life.

Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council facilitates the Amy Award program; Bainbridge Performing Arts and Bainbridge Arts & Crafts each select, in alternate years, an emerging artist in the performing and visual arts as the award winner.

For more information on the Amy Award please contact BIAHC: admin@artshum.org / 206.842.7901