New full-day workshop offers intimate experience for budding musicians to learn from regional talent
SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (March 12, 2025) — The Master Musicians Festival (MMF) has long been known for its emphasis on music education and offering performance opportunities to young songwriters. A new initiative announced today by the non-profit festival marries these two mission-centric efforts, creating a free day-long mentorship experience for 30 budding musicians.
MMF’s Young Songwriters Retreat will debut from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10. The event is presented by Lake Cumberland Resort III, Lake Cumberland Property Investments and Burnside Tourism, and will be hosted at Lake Cumberland Resort III’s event venue The CW Lodge in Burnside. MMF Executive Director Tiffany Finley said it is the perfect space for hosting this kind of retreat, with scenic views and a quiet environment for participating musicians to get creative.
“Lake Cumberland Resort has been an incredible sponsor for MMF and integral in many of our supporting events, like Classical Night and our art auction,” Finley said. “Dianna Lowery-Pulliam and her team are champions for the arts and local musicians. You can see that throughout this destination resort, which sells and displays local art and offers spaces to host live music for visitors.”
Lowery-Pulliam first got involved with the festival in 2022, when she purchased the featured artwork at MMF’s art auction. She approached Finley to ask how she could get more involved as a sponsor, and has been supporting the festival and its efforts since.
“Through every melody and every lyric, we’re more than just spectators — we’re changemakers,” Lowery-Pulliam said. “By supporting the Master Musicians Festival, we empower young artists, one dream, one song, one future at a time.”
Finley said Burnside Tourism has also been an integral part of MMF for many years, and she is excited for the opportunity to bring a piece of this annual festival to the Burnside community.
“Our Young Songwriters Panel on festival weekend has become a crowd favorite,” Finley said. “We wanted to expand upon it to bring more young people into the fold and help inspire the next generation of Master Musicians. I am so grateful to our sponsors for seeing the value in this educational opportunity and I can’t wait to see what these young artists will produce as a result of our sponsors’ investment in their dreams.”
The Young Songwriters Retreat is open to anyone 20 years old or younger at any skill level. Participants will be assigned to a beginner or advanced track and paired with mentors who will work with them intimately on honing their craft. A family dinner and showcase will cap off the evening.
Mentors include regional musicians and MMF alums Aaron Smith, Adam Chaffins, Bee Taylor, Brit Taylor, Cody Lee Meece, Spooky Fox, Wes Smith and Emily Galloway.
Only 30 spots are available for the retreat and participation is free. Interested musicians can register at mastermusiciansfestival.org, by selecting “Young Songwriters Retreat Application” in the menu.
For more information, e-mail mastermusiciansfestival@gmail.com.
The 32nd Master Musicians Festival, presented by Somerset 106 and See Somerset Tourism, will be July 11-12, 2025, at Somerset Community College’s Festival Field. Children 12 and younger are admitted free with a ticket-holding adult.
