For Kids
Joel Stehr of Stehr Guitars is a Spokane-based luthier with more than 25 years of experience. His instruments have been seen on David Letterman, Jay Leno and the Conan Obrien show. With SAGA support, Stehr will formally launch The Luthier’s Path Scholarship in 2026, creating a rare opportunity for an aspiring musician, woodworker, or craftsperson to build a professional-quality acoustic guitar. The selected participant will complete a four- to six-month, one-on-one course requiring 100–150 hours of instruction, culminating in a fully finished instrument. The program builds on years of Stehr’s mentorship and his global reputation for handcrafted guitars owned by musicians and collectors worldwide. SAGA is excited to help bring this unique training opportunity into a more accessible, community-facing format.
The scholarship fully covers the cost of instruction, including all labor, mentorship, and hands-on guidance throughout the guitar-building journey, representing 80-85% of the cost of the opportunity. At its heart, this offering provides the selected student with dedicated, one-on-one time at the workbench—learning not just the techniques, but the rhythm and intuition of the craft—at no cost for instruction–removing much of the financial barrier while opening the door to the rare and deeply personal experience of building a guitar from the ground up.