MISSION STATEMENT
The Vinegrass Organization's mission is to enhance the cultural quality of life through the production of American Roots concerts and festivals. We will preserve and foster this traditional American genre of music through scholarships, grants, instruments and educational programs.
ABOUT VINEGRASS
The Vinegrass Organization is a non profit music production company, that produces concerts, educational workshops and The Vinegrass Music Festival, in order to raise money for our charitable mission. We provide scholarships to students studying music at an accredited 4 year university. In addition to the scholarships, we will subsidize camps and workshops, as well as provide instruments to younger students in need. Through 2023 Vinegrass Music has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships, grants and instruments.
Founded by Monica Rizzio in 2013, Vinegrass is a lifelong dream for Monica to give back to those who have helped her become a professional musician and educator. Raised on a ranch in east Texas, Monica always loved music, but her family's financial means prohibited her from taking music lessons and having instruments. Her only instrument for the longest time was her voice until she was able to play the flute in the middle school band. Monica did not learn to play the fiddle, ukulele or guitar until she was in her early twenties, after graduation from Belmont University in Nashville with a degree in Vocal Performance. She often wonders what may have been had she been give the opportunity as a child. She opened up Washashore Music, a private instructional music school in Orleans, MA providing instruction in fiddle, guitar, piano, voice, ukulele, songwriting and artist development.