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Graham and Joyce Walker were passionate about traditional style folk music and spent many happy years amongst the folk whanau in New Zealand attending folk clubs and folk festivals.
When in 2019 Graham was diagnosed with a terminal illness, less than a year after Joyce had died, he decided to leave their estate for the growth and development of the music they loved.
The Walker Traditional Folk Music Trust is committed to the growth and development of traditional and traditional style folk music, which may have been written in any era, but has roots in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and New Zealand.
By raising the profile of traditional and traditional style folk music in New Zealand and by inspiring and supporting young musicians to experience, learn, and enjoy this music, the Trust aims to ensure the music survives and flourishes in years to come, as a vibrant and active part of New Zealand’s cultural identity, finding new life in the hands of every generation.
The Dual Purposes of the Trust:
1. To support young musicians up to and including 24 years old to learn, improve or develop their Traditional Style Folk Music skills.
2. To raise the profile of Traditional Style Folk Music in New Zealand.
Walker Performance Award Winners
2023 Hamilton Folk Festival
Trust Chairman Barry Swallow presenting Award to Campbell Maydon.
Winners of the Walker Young Adult performance award at the Wellington Folk Festival 2023 Sayaka Kirkman and Sapir Ben-Shahar
Shane Stewart, Barry Swallow and Karen Jones
Walker Trad Trust bought four Heron 26 string Harps made by Shane Stewart, so that four lucky children could have the use of them and benefit from the expert tuition provided by Karen Jones children’s music centre.
For the purposes of this Trust “Traditional Style Folk Music” Means songs, tunes and instrumental accompaniments written in any era in the traditional style folk music genre which has its roots in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and New Zealand.
