OUR YOUTH PROGRAM IS NAMED "TAYLOR'S CAMP".

IN HONOR OF THIS FINE GENTLEMAN

Taylor Richards was a young man who epitomized our vision for developing an instructional camp to nurture an appreciation of American roots music in the next generation. From the day Taylor walked into a little music store in Leavenworth Washington with his dad Steve, with a little interest in music but not much thought of Bluegrass, until he played on our stage in the guitar flat-picking contest 5 years later, a transformation took place. Every summer he would come out from his home in Georgia to see his dad and they would attend the Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival. With every festival he would get better and better; gleaning information, techniques and style from everyone he could play with. Soaking up everything he could hold. He and his dad found a common ground that cemented them together, no matter how far apart they were the rest of the year. He grew into a man we were all so proud to know, with his quick wit, gentle heart, gracious manners and a smile that could calm the most hectic moment. Taylor wanted to continue his family's tradition of military service and was killed in combat serving his country as a Lance Corporal Marine in Afghanistan on June 26th, 2010. We, the Board of Directors of the Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival, wanted to honor Taylor 's memory and his love of Bluegrass music by naming our school “ Taylor 's Camp”. We know we couldn't ask for a better guardian angel for our “kids”.

Taylor Richards at the 2006 WRBF