Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
May 15, 2008 issue
Watauga Arts Council and Daniel Boone Days Announce Watauga County Fiddlers’ Competition
Story by Sam Calhoun
Attention fiddlers of all ages—now is your time to shine.
On three Fridays during the Watauga County Arts Council’s Concerts on the Lawn series this summer, the council is hosting qualifying fiddlers’ competitions for the Watauga County Arts Council’s Fiddlers’ Competition Finals that will take place on Saturday, September 6, at Horn in the West as part of Daniel Boone Days—the High Country’s new music, arts and culture festival.
Fiddlers of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to call the Watauga County Arts Council at 828-264-1789 to register for free for the qualifying rounds. The first fifteen fiddlers to register will get to participate in the event.
The fiddlers will be split into groups of five and compete on three different Fridays at Concerts on the Lawn. One group will compete on June 27, one will compete on July 11 and one will compete on August 8.
“There hasn’t been a fiddlers’ competition in Watauga County for several years—I think the last was in the 1990s,” said Mark Freed, folklorist for the Watauga County Arts Council and coordinator of the competitions. “It used to happen every year, so we’re bringing back the chance for musicians to become the Watauga County fiddler champion. And, of course, it’s fun and another way to share the music.”
The winner of each group receives a $50 gift certificate to Mast General Store. The top two fiddlers in each group advance to the Watauga County Arts Council’s Fiddlers’ Competition Finals, where they will compete to become the new Watauga County fiddler champion. All fiddlers’ competitions will be determined by a crowd vote, so contestants are encouraged to bring family and friends to the qualifying rounds, as well as the finals, to cheer them on.
Of the six fiddlers that make it to the finals on September 6, three will win cash prizes and trophies. The winner of the competition receives $100, second place gets $50 and third place receives $25. To commemorate the event, the top three fiddlers will also receive sgraffito pottery vases made by local artist Jeff Martin.
The Watauga County Arts Council’s Fiddlers’ Competition Finals takes place from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on the main stage at Horn in the West as part of Daniel Boone Days’ Pioneer Festival at the Horn. The Pioneer Festival at the Horn also includes square dancing, arts and crafts vendors, a Daniel Boone Look-Alike Contest and live performances from Boone’s Lost Ridge Band, Virginia’s Larry Keel and Natural Bridge and MerleFest standouts The Waybacks. Admission is $10 in advance and $12 at the door.
For more information, click to www.danielboonedays.com or call 828-264-1789.