Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony Jam 2024. Photo courtesy of Wilkes Heritage Museum. 

Music is an important thread in the fabric of our culture.  It is a universal language that speaks to the soul and inspires us to collaborate and contribute to the melody.  To highlight the importance of musical traditions in our region, the Wilkes Heritage Museum created the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame.  Centrally located in the museum, the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame exists to showcase and preserve the rich musical heritage of the greater Blue Ridge Mountains from northern Georgia to northern Virginia. The Hall of Fame educates, defines, and interprets the history of music and musicians in all genres from the region with exhibits and an annual celebration of inductees.  Wilkes Heritage Museum Director, Jennifer Furr, will discuss the creation of the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame and how it links our region together.

About the Speaker:

Jennifer Furr holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from Appalachian State University with a concentration in Public History and minor in Anthropology.  She has worked at Fort Defiance in Caldwell County and Reed Gold Mine State Historic Site in Cabarrus County.  She has been the Director of the Wilkes Heritage Museum since 2004.  Jennifer is a member of the Wilkes Community Foundation Board and has served roles in various tourism related organizations throughout her career in the museum field.  Jennifer is active in her church, Baptist Home, and serves on the Budget and Preschool Committees.  She is married to Adam Furr who teaches Social Studies at Wilkes Central High School.  Jennifer and Adam have two boys, Wesley (member of the Army Reserves and currently a Junior at Liberty University) and Joshua (Junior at West Wilkes High School). 

This program is made possible in part by a grant from America 250 NC, an initiative by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.