by Ben Freed
In 1993, the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) presented a now legendary performance of a kids’ superstar bluegrass band called the Bluegrass Youth All-Stars. The band included Chris Thile, Josh Williams, Cody Kilby and Michael Cleveland, all of whom have gone on to notable professional careers in bluegrass music. This year marks the 20th anniversary of that IBMA’s Awards Show performance and this year the IBMA will be continuing in that tradition with an Awards Show performance by a new hand-picked group of young bluegrass talent. Here’s the kicker for the HVBA: Our own fourteen-year-old member Korey Brodsky has been invited to play guitar as part of the group!
Korey is a gifted musician with guitar and mandolin as his main instruments. He has studied with Betsy Rome, Jim Allen, Michael Daves, Jim Hurst, and Steve Kaufman. He has earned first place in guitar and mandolin contests (adult categories), and has shared the stage with the likes of Bill Keith, Jonathan Edwards, and James King. Currently, his own “Korey Brodsky Band,” (with his dad Rick on bass, Dick Neal on mandolin, Andrea Asprelli on fiddle, and Josh Cohen on banjo) gigs on the weekends in and around his Newtown Connecticut hometown.
All the music aside, Korey is truly a delight to be with. He is genuinely modest and mature beyond his years. He is also an academic star, with a special interest in physics and mathematics. Keep your eye on this dude. As Korey’s dad Rick says, “It really does take a village to raise a child.”
(The IBMA Awards Show will be presented at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina on the evening of September 26th, as part of the IBMA’s World of Bluegrass events. The show will be broadcast live on Sirius/XM Radio station Bluegrass Junction. TV coverage has not been announced yet but Bluegrass Today appears to be carrying a live stream.