Contest Results

The 29th Annual MABC Winter Bluegrass Festival hosted its annual Fiddle & Banjo Contest on Friday, January 7, 2011. With a total of 35 registered contestants, it was quite a contest! Once again, I was amazed at the talent of the junior contestants, which just gets better and better every year.

Many thanks to Steve, for doing a wonderful job with the sound. Contest night makes for a very busy evening for Steve, as he has to go from the stage at the front of the auditorium, to the board at the very back of the auditorium, over and over again.

Julie did another great job emceeing the contest. She’s been doing this for as long as I have been managing the contests, and it is always great to see her and know that the contest is in good hands with her!

Our judges for the contest were Chelsea Perkinson and Greg Tiemann, both of whom play a mulititude of instruments and have been great judges for MABC and The Bluegrass Shack in previous contests. I have judged and I have managed contests, and judging is certainly one of the most thankless jobs I’ve ever done! I am so grateful that we are able to have such talented and dedicated judges!

The Bluegrass Shack presented several special awards Friday evening during the contest. These went to three very special folks who have given much of their time and dedication to the MABC contests and/or bluegrass festival over the years. These went to Julie Carnahan, for her excellent emcee coverage; Zane Prosser for backing so many contestants over the years; and to Carla Steinkoetter for her time and dedication to contest registration, scoring and a host of other things that I need!

Here are the results of the contest:

Junior Banjo (16 & Under)
1st - Nikki Warnecke (Most Entertaining)
2nd - Ben Politte (Youngest Banjo Player)
3rd - Paige Johnson

Junior Fiddle (16 & Under)
1st - Adam Barton
2nd - Heather Stortz
3rd - Trustin Baker
4th - Paige Johnson
5th - John Kleine
Lindsey Martin (Most Entertaining)
Nolan Niemeyer (Youngest Fiddle Player)

Open Banjo (17 & up)
1st - Steve Thomas
2nd - Rob Addelson
3rd - Thomas Sitze
4th - Jerry Hasty (Oldest Banjo Player)
5th - Kevin Martin
Fred Pringle (Most Entertaining)

Open Fiddle (17 & up)
1st - Richard Shewmaker
2nd - Corrina Logston
3rd - Mark Vaccaro
4th - Dennis Huebner
5th - Howard Marshall (Most Entertaining)
Andy Talley (Oldest Fiddle Player)

Don’t forget that the March festival will feature all the youth in bluegrass Friday night in the fiddle, banjo and talent contests. This is one of my favorite events of the entire year. You don’t want to miss it! Hope to see you there!