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Gardner Winter Music Festival Heritage Award

Each year an individual or a group is selected to receive the Gardner Winter Music Festival Heritage Award. The criteria for this award are as follows:

  1. Person or organization with recognizable contribution to Appalachian music.
  2. Actions that go above and beyond to promote Appalachian Traditional Music.
  3. A weighted preference to person/organization who/which has, in the spirit of the Gardner Festival, participated fully and has demonstrated dedication to both the music and the festival by continued participation. (Does not have to be required but should merit a weighted preference.)

As of 2026 the Board has decided to open nominations to the public. These nominations are not necessarily for the current year, but will be more of a rolling list to be considered each year. We also ask that when making the nomination you tell us not just who you are nominating, but also why you feel they are deserving. The form to submit nominations may be found at this link external link icon

Past Heritage Award Winners