Photo by Diana Lyn Davidson
OFFICIAL ALABAMA STATE FIDDLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, April 27, 2013
Showcase Stage
Panoply Arts Festival 

The Arts Council is pleased to host the 8th Annual Official Alabama State Fiddling Championship at the 31st Annual Panoply Arts Festival! 

This competition is open to contestants from across the nation. It consists of five total categories: four amateur levels divided by age and one Master Fiddler level open to all ages. Each category offers five monetary prizes and trophies, and the winner of the “Master Fiddler” level will be awarded a cash prize of $1,000, along with the Official Alabama State Championship Governor’s Cup. To register for the competition, please click here. Please see below for competition schedule, hotel information, rules, and a list of past winners.

If you don't feel like entering but still would love to participate, just bring your instrument and jam with the musicians. 

For reference, below is the typical schedule for the Fiddling Championship. Times may vary.

10:00 a.m. - Registration
10:30 a.m. - Opening Ceremony
11:00 a.m. - Jr.- Jr. Division
12:00 p.m. - Jr. Division
1:30 p.m. - Master Division Preliminaries
3:00 p.m. - Adult Division
4:30 p.m. - Senior Division
5:30 p.m. - Master Division Finals
6:45 p.m. - Award Ceremony
 

Each division competes for prize money ranging from $25 - $150, with the Master Division competing for prize money from $150 - $1,000.

2012 Winners:

JUNIOR – JUNIOR (12 and under)
1.      Cara DiGiovanni          -           Greenbrier, TN
2.      Matthew Lin                -           Lexington, KY
3.      Caleb Bryant               -           Northport, AL
4.      Ivy Phillips                   -           Chapmansboro, TN
5.      Benjamin Lin                -           Lexington, KY

JUNIOR (13 – 16 years of age)
1.      Allie Hagan                 -           Nicholasville, KY
2.      Frannie DiGiovanni     -           Greenbrier, TN
3.      Emma DeJarnette       -           Snellville, GA
4.      Andrew Lin                  -           Lexington, KY
5.      Lauren Clardy             -           Flintville, TN

ADULT (16 – 60 years of age)
1.      Chris Gray                   -           Smyrna, TN
2.      Hillary Bevels              -           Shelbyville, TN
3.      Dallas Key                   -           Birmingham, AL
4.      Kelly Lynn                    -           Huntsville, AL

SENIOR (60 and over)
1.      Jerry McGlocklin         -           Athens, AL
2.      Wayne Jerrolds                       -           Savannah, TN
3.      Desmond Ross             -           Huntsville, AL
4.      Rob Pearcy                  -           Smyrna, TN
5.      Wayne Carter             -           Aberdeen, MS

MASTER (all ages)
1.      Grant Rigney               -           Normandy, TN
2.      Joel Whittinghill          -           Bowling Green, KY
3.      Megan Lynch              -           Goodlettsville, TN
4.      Tyler Andal                  -           White House, TN
5.      Ivor Ottley                   -           Goodlettsville, TN

photo by Sue Zupko

 Rules:

Alabama State Fiddling Championship
Contest Rules and Guidelines

1. Contest rules and guidelines may be amended depending on the situation and events at hand during the competition.

2. Pre-registration prior to 1 April 2011 will ensure eligibility to compete in the 2011 Alabama State Fiddling Championship.

3. Contact microphones and amplified instruments will not be permitted.

4. Contestants may play without accompanists or with no more than two.  Any stringed instrument is acceptable as backup.  Accompanists should not play "lead".

5. Contestants should avoid "trick" or "show" fiddling.  Traditional show tunes, "Mockingbird", "Black Mountain Rag" and "Orange Blossom Special" will not be allowed in competition.  No cross-tuning.  Note:  "Double shuffle" is acceptable if it is a traditional part of the tune.

6. Using sheet music on stage will result in disqualification.
 
7. In the event of a broken string or similar equipment failure, the fiddler will have the option to continue or stop at that point.  If the contestant continues, the tune will be judged as played.  If the fiddler stops play, he will be allowed to begin with that tune and complete his program.

8. Registration for each category will end prior to drawing for position, before the beginning of each category.  Contestants who have pre-registered still must check in on day of contest.  All contestants will draw for position and must be present and in proper drawn position for entry on to the stage.  Late arrivals or no-shows will be eliminated from the event.

9. Contestants are responsible for being backstage one act prior to their position.  Contestants should be ready to compete when called to the stage.  Contestants should begin their first tune within 20 seconds from the time they are announced. 

10. Competition in the Jr.-Jr., Junior, Adult, and Senior divisions will consist of one round of two tunes - a breakdown and a waltz.

11. Contestants in the Master division will play a preliminary round of two tunes - a breakdown and a waltz.  The top five will then move on to the Championship round, where they will play three tunes - a breakdown, a waltz, and a tune of choice other than a breakdown or a waltz (i.e., a rag, polka, jig or schottische).

12. In the event of a tie, contestants will play a tie breaker round of two tunes - a breakdown and a waltz.

13. Playing time should not exceed 2 1/2 minutes per tune.  Excessively long performances will result in lost points.

14. Contestants can play a tune only once in competition.  If a tune is repeated, no score will be given for that tune.

15. Any contestant who wins first place for two consecutive years will not be allowed to compete in the same category the following year.

16. Decisions of the judges and of the contest committee will be final.

17. The contest committee reserves the right to reduce the number of tunes played and/or reduce performance time in any or all rounds of competition as necessary to complete the competition within time constraints.

18. Judges and contest personnel are not eligible to compete, nor are their immediate family members - spouse, siblings, parents or children.

19. Upon contestant registration, all commercial recording, photo and video rights during the contest are reserved and shall become the property of the Alabama State Fiddling Championship.