University Bluegrass Ensemble

University Bluegrass Ensemble 

Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 at 8 p.m.

Wilson Concert Hall/Wilson Hall/Lenfest Center

No tickets required.

Bluegrass and old-time string band music have a strong foundation at W&L thanks to the efforts of former Bluegrass Ensemble directors Nate Leath and Burr Datz. They followed in the footsteps of Professor Emeritus of Geology Odell McGuire, who, with his wife Mata, helped create a vibrant and world-renowned old-time music scene in the 1970s that is still celebrated today.

Bluegrass music also has deep roots in Lexington and Rockbridge County, Virginia, making the Bluegrass Ensemble an excellent opportunity to connect W&L students and the broader community to the region's rich musical traditions.

After going on hiatus in 2019, the Bluegrass Ensemble was revived in the summer of 2025 under the direction of Blake Shester. With limited time to promote the group before fall term, recruitment relied largely on word of mouth, and participation grew as more students learned about it.

"I chose to join because I'd heard bluegrass music here and there after coming to the States for college, and I know W&L is located in the Appalachian region where bluegrass originated. It's fun to think about playing the music in the place where it was born," said Bill Zheng '26.

"Most of these musicians came into the ensemble with little to no prior experience playing bluegrass," said Director Blake Shester. "With only ten hours of rehearsal time to learn an entirely new genre and absorb its style and nuances, every student has worked hard to perform a classic bluegrass set that would make the late Bill Monroe proud."

The Bluegrass Ensemble welcomes all musicians and vocalists, regardless of experience. Shester hopes this performance showcases the beauty, elegance, and universality of this enduring form of American music."

Performance will be streamed at go.wlu.edu/livestream