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Jim Pittman was one of the founders of the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival. He was a poet and songwriter and called himself the “Singing Cook”. Jim was born in Lunenburg the son of a sea captain and loved to sing folk songs and sea shanties.
In 1983, Jim and Bill Plaskett became friends and began writing songs together and ultimately started the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival in 1986.
Jim died on December 27, 1996 at the age of 59. Shortly after, the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society established the Jim Pittman Awards in his honour.
In 2016, the awards program was changed to a scholarship program to increase our support for the young musicians and music teachers in Lunenburg County.
The Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society is pleased to celebrate folklore and music traditions of Lunenburg County and promote heritage education through the Jim Pittman Music Scholarship Program.
The program provides payment of up to $300 for music lessons for students in grades 4-12.
We would like to thank the Pittman family, in memory of Jim and Audrey, for their generous donation in support of these scholarships.
May 31: Deadline for scholarship applications
July: Recipients will be notified
August: Recipients will be announced at the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival
September: Start lessons
A panel of judges will award the three scholarships. Judges are members of the Education and Youth Committee and/or Lifetime Friends of the Festival.
To apply, a student must fill out an application explaining how music has helped them learn about and appreciate the heritage of Lunenburg County. The application also asks for references and requires a parent’s signature.
Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society Education Committee
125 Montague Street, P.O. Box 655
Lunenburg, NS
B0J 2C0
Please consider becoming an annual supporter of the Jim Pittman youth Scholarships as funds need to be raised annually to support awarded youth to advance their musical education. Donate at CanadaHelps.com and select “Jim Pittman awards” on our Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society page.
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