David Kirby

The Red Lodge Songwriter Festival Endowed Scholarship in Memory of David Kirby was established in 2019 to support music students and honor a beloved friend, father, and husband.

David experienced music as many of us do – he was not a musician himself, but an avid listener, concert-goer, and supporter of the arts. His enjoyment of music drew him to the Red Lodge Songwriter Festival Inc., a three-day event focused on songwriting and held in “a quaint little ski town with a music problem.” The Festival boasts a roster nationally- and internationally-known songwriters performing a series of intimate concerts. Its purpose is to provide opportunities for people to learn, grow, and heal through music and songwriting. These populations include individuals pursuing a career in music, supporting local school music programs, and assisting wounded service members during their recovery.

David was a long-time supporter of the Festival. He volunteered, served in leadership, and shared his sense of humor and infectious laugh every step of the way.

In the early morning hours of March 21, 2019, David passed after a short and unexpected illness, with his wife and son at his side.

Just a few months later, his friends and family created the Red Lodge Songwriter Festival Endowed Scholarship in Memory of David Kirby with the intent to help budding musicians afford higher education and to perpetuate the joy of music, whether experienced as a performer and or as a listener.