Jenks Fiddler Places in National Championship
FIDDLIN’ FRENZY: Grand Master Fiddler Alex Hargreaves, center, pauses with runners-up and Grand Master Fiddler Championship Board of Directors following awards presentation. From left are Crystal Plohman, director; Trey McClain, director; Justin Branum, third place; Grand Master Fiddler Alex Hargreaves; Tashina Clarridge, second place; Ed Carnes, director; and Howard Harris, director.
Fiddler Jake Duncan of Jenks placed 20th in the Grand Master Fiddler Championship in Nashville, Tenn. Duncan received $100 and a certificate. The two-day 38th annual Grand Master Fiddler Championship is the nation’s championship event held at the International Bluegrass Music Association Fan Fest.
“This year’s event brought together some of the most talented fiddlers we have ever seen,” says Howard Harris, GMFC president. “Fiddlers came from across the U.S., Canada, the Czech Republic and Japan.”
The Grand Master Fiddler Championship, Inc. is a Tennessee non-profit and a U.S. IRS 501©(3) charitable corporation, formed to educate about and perpetuate fiddling as an art form and cultural treasure. Fiddlers competed for over $14,000 in prizes.
Competitors showed their talents amongst some of the leading performers in acoustic music including Mark O’Connor and his Appalachian Trio, Grand Ole Opry star Buck White with Roland White, Quebe Sisters Band, Sierra Hull and Highway 111, Alex DePue and Miguel De Hoyos, Billy Contreras, The All Star Campers and Buddy Spicher, Cathy Roberts and U.S. Streamliners, Fiddle Frenzy, Ashanti Floyd “The Mad Violinist,” Matt Barrett, Chris Morgan and Matthew Davenport.
In honor of its founder, the organization presented the Dr. Perry F. Harris Award to Dolly Parton for her work in support of the traditional art of fiddling.
Actor and entertainer Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” served as celebrity host for both days of the event with a special appearance by WSM announcer Eddie Stubbs and Stuart Fryer, who hosted the accompanist contest. “What wonderful shoes I am being allowed to walk in – Roy Acuff and Porter Wagoner,” he says. “Fiddling who has been so good to me, its an honor to be able to give back by encouraging another generation of fiddlers. The organizers Ed, Howard and Crystal deserve great praise for keeping a vital part of our musical experience growing.”
Other organizers include Grand Master Fiddler Championship vice president Ed Carnes, directors Crystal Plohman, Gayla Tanaka-Bollinger and Alva T. “Trey” McClain.
Contest judges were Shorty Chancellor, Danita Gardner, Megan Lynch, Katrina Pearce Nicolayeff and Bobby Taylor.
Contestants placing 11 through 20 were Tatiana Hargreaves of Corvallis, Ore.; Wes Westmoreland of Temple, Texas; Ellie Goodman of Edmond, Okla.; Alex DePue of San Diego, Calif., Eischen Harkins of Canon City, Colo.; Jakub Trasak of the Czech Republic; Tim Hodgson of Victor, Idaho; Matt Wyatt of Independence, Mo.; Lydia Elseth of Nacogdoches, Tex. and Jake Duncan of Jenks.
For more information, visit www.grandmasterfiddler.com.
Updated 11-23-2009
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