In June 2026, I was elected to the Board of Directors of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). I first heard the idea that I should run for the position at the European Bluegrass Summit in 2025 from Paul Schiminger—the former (and current interim) executive director of the IBMA. Although I was flattered, I didn’t give the idea much thought for a long time and eventually dismissed it. After all, I didn’t choose music to spend my time attending meetings, poring over documents, and who knows what else (honestly—I still don’t know what else I’ll be spending my time on in this new position 🙂 ).
However, the topic was brought up again by Christopher Howard-Williams—the outgoing “international member” of the IBMA Board of Directors—during our meeting at a folk conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland. During his six years with the IBMA, Christopher spearheaded several projects that I consider truly beneficial for the international (i.e., non-American) bluegrass scene, particularly the IBMA International Band Performance Grant Program and the International Stage at the IBMA World of Bluegrass conference. So I revisited the idea—both on my own and with my family and various people here and abroad—and decided to go for it. After all, I was similarly reluctant to become a member of the Czech Bluegrass Music Association board, and in the end, I’ve found that working for the organization is both enjoyable and fulfilling. And here, too, I felt the need to give back to our (Czech, European, and international) bluegrass community for what has brought me to where I am today. This, too, is a step outside my comfort zone, but I see it as another challenge—and challenges have always pushed me toward becoming a better version of myself (which I consider a reward for my volunteer work).
Over the next three years, I also want to be your voice in the world of international bluegrass. So please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with ideas for collaboration or questions about how the IBMA can benefit you. I have a few of my own, and I’ll be looking for answers to them, because I remain, first and foremost, a musician and a fan—the very people associations are meant to serve.
