“The Blues Society of the Ozarks has done so many amazing things for me in the last few years. I was first awarded the Debbie Rule Youth Music Scholarship when I was 18. I was very new to the music scene in Springfield and had only played at one jam night. While I had taught myself guitar, and practiced for hours and hours, I realized that playing live is a whole different beast. With the help of the scholarship, I was able to afford to take lessons from a great local talent, Sean Clavin. I met Sean at the Lindbergh’s Tavern Jam on Thursday nights. I was playing with them every single week. It was great because Sean saw me play all the time and knew exactly what I needed help with.

I applied for the scholarship again the following year. At this point, I had a good amount of shows under my belt and had become much more involved with the Blues Society. Through the Blues Society, I met Mary Certain and Brenda Seely who informed me of a blues workshop that takes place in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The Pinetop Perkins Foundation Workshop sounded like so much fun and under normal circumstances, I would have never been able to get down there. However, I was able to attend with the help of the DRYMS money. I had such a wonderful experience there and I learned so much about guitar and blues.

Despite balancing college and two jobs, I was ecstatic when I was asked by George Hunt to come play the DRYMS fundraising event. This scholarship has helped me so much and given me so many opportunities that I never would have been able to take advantage of on my own. The event was amazing and I was so happy that they asked me to be there. Even though playing is very fun, the best part of the night is hearing Al Rule speak so highly of his wife Debbie. The scholarship is so magical because it was created from two people who loved music and each other so much. Now, as a guitar teacher myself, I highly recommend this scholarship to my students that show the same amount of passion in music that I have.
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“My name is Aurora Smith, and I am a proud recipient of the Debbie Rule Youth Music Scholarship (D.R.Y.M.S.) through the Blues Society. This scholarship has played a truly meaningful role in my journey as a musician, and I am honored to share how much of a difference it has made in my life.

I strongly believe that financial limitations should never be the reason a student has to walk away from music. Music can demand not only talent and dedication, but also resources—tuition, instruments, travel, lessons, and countless hours of committed time. For many students, those costs can feel overwhelming. The D.R.Y.M.S. scholarship helps remove that barrier. By easing financial strain, the Blues Society ensures that passion, work ethic, and love for music—not money—determine who gets to continue pursuing their calling.

The scholarship also made it possible for me to travel with my university orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall, an experience that affirmed my commitment to music and strengthened my confidence as a performer. Opportunities like this are not just milestones—they are transformative moments that shape students’ futures.
The Blues Society does more than provide financial assistance; it invests in students’ potential. Their support has helped me continue pursuing my degree with confidence and purpose, and it has reinforced my desire to one day give back to young musicians in the same way. I wholeheartedly support their application for funding and am deeply grateful for the lasting impact they have had on my education and life.
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