Homegrown musician wins island’s Amy Award

Published 9:00 am Saturday, May 19, 2012

Turns out this “crazy kid” is crazy good.

Jherek Bischoff has been awarded the island’s Amy Award for his impressive musical achievements.

“The Amy Award is a wonderful and giving way to bring awareness to the importance of support to the arts,” Bischoff said. “I hope, as Bainbridge Island grows and grows, we will all continue to remember that we can all make a difference.”

The Amy Award is given out each year by the Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council. Selections for the award are chosen each year by either Bainbridge Performing Arts or Bainbridge Arts and Crafts.

The award goes to an islander, current or former, who is under the age of 35 and is an example of a dedicated and creative artist.

The award started when islanders Dave and Kerry Anderson began an endowment in memory of their daughter Amy.

Bischoff said he is honored to receive the award, especially since it has become a family legacy.

“I am the second Bischoff to get this award,” he said. “My brother, Korum, received the award the first year it was given.”

Bischoff remembers attending the first Amy Award ceremony and feeling proud of his brother.

“But also very proud of the community of Bainbridge Island for acknowledging my brother’s talent, hard work and influence on the community,” he said.

Bischoff grew up on the island and credits the community as an influence on him as an artist.

“My upbringing on Bainbridge Island has had a huge impact on me as a person and as an artist,” Bischoff said. “I was not a ‘normal’ kid. I was raised on a sailboat in Winslow Wharf Marina and was that kid with the bright green hair, bright orange coverall suit and purple Converse (sneakers).”

Bischoff said that in many towns he might have been roughed up for standing out.

“But on Bainbridge Island

I was rarely given a double take!

I was really lucky to be raised in an accepting and nurturing environment.”

Since his time on the island, Bischoff has recorded numerous albums, including his latest, “Composed,” to be released June 5.

He has also toured the United States, Europe, Australia and Brazil numerous times. And recently, he has had the honor of working with David Byrne of Talking Heads fame.

Bischoff has come a long way, but he still remembers his roots on Bainbridge Island.

“I was once that crazy kid,” Bischoff said. “And now two months ago I was on stage in a tux with an entire orchestra with David Byrne at my side, on a stage at Lincoln Center playing my music!”