Contests

Jamboree Competition Information

The Happy Valley Jamboree features a **single** competition in the evening on Saturday.  In several ways, this competition differs from the previous Fiddlers Convention.  Rather than several individual categories and a band competition, the jamboree has one open individual music and/or dance competition (a live old-time band will be provided for dancers).  Since part of the Jamboree’s mission is to celebrate and encourage our region’s rich and diverse musical heritage, contestants are strongly encouraged to perform old-time, bluegrass, piedmont blues, ragtime, and early country music.  The Jamboree strives to create a welcoming, supportive, and fun atmosphere for all participants.

Individual Prizes:

1st Place – $150,  2nd Place – $75, 3rd Place – $50

Sign-up and Competition Backstage

  • Contestants may sign up in advance at the festival’s information table, and also during the run of the competition so long as there are available time slots.  Contestants will be called to the stage in the order that they have signed up.  Contestant order will be posted on a board outside the barn.  Participants are asked to be in the “back of barn” area during the competition until they perform.  A volunteer will call out the name of the competitor who is “up next” so that they can be ready to go onstage after the preceding contestant. 

Competition Rules

  1. Only **acoustic** instruments are allowed with one exception: due to the fact that we can’t haul a real piano on stage, Electric keyboards *may* be used, but they must be on a traditional “piano” setting.
  2. Contestants will be allowed one living, breathing accompanist.  Accompanists may play with more than one individual contestant. Pre-recorded accompaniment is not permitted.
  3. Contestants are permitted 3 minutes to perform one tune or one song.  (All competitors *may* be asked to perform two songs and/or tunes in the rare case that few contestants have entered. Competitors may re-tune between songs if two songs are requested.)
  4. All songs must be limited to 3 minutes. Judges will penalize for going over allotted time.
  5. No medleys are allowed.
  6. Competitors who place first in a particular category 3 years in a row will no longer be eligible to compete.  These winners will be recognized as Master Musicians and although they are ineligible to compete in the future, they may be asked to perform as a highlight at the next festival.

Judging

  • In order to encourage and perpetuate traditional music, judging will be based on the following:
  1. Execution – timing, clarity, tuning, tone quality, smoothness of starting and stopping, and level of ability.
  2. Authenticity and Presentation – style, balance, sense of melody, arrangement, and overall expression/soul.
  • Scoring will not be based on age, gender, race, appearance, place of residence, or any other non-musical factor.
  • All judging is final and cannot be contested. Judging sheets will not be made available to all participants.
  • Accidents or disturbances beyond the control of the contestant (such as a broken string/noise) may result in a replay, if the judges so merit.
  • Sound system adjustments will be made and remain at the same setting throughout each round of eliminations, with the exception of feedback adjustments by sound technicians.
  • Deviations from the rules *may* result in disqualification.

Flatfoot Dance Rules and Judging Issues

Flatfoot Dance competitions will be approximately 30-45 seconds with a live band providing music. Dance judges favor traditional performance over technical performance. Flatfoot dance will be judged on difficulty and variety of steps, natural and comfortable dance presentation, timing, and presentation of smooth old time style.

  • Shoes must be worn.
  • No taps are allowed.
  • Accidents or disturbances beyond the control of the contestant may result in a replay if the judges so merit.
  • Tunes will be played two times through (AABB, AABB), with 4 “potatoes” to start, followed by a 4 beat ending tag (“Shave and a Haircut 2-bits).  The tune will be played at the start of the competition so that the dancers can hear the tune and structure.
  • All judging is final and cannot be contested.
  • Scoring will not be based on age, gender, race, appearance, place of residence, or any other non-musical/dance factor.

2023 Winners

Folk Singing

  1. Sarah Ogletree
  2. Lake Carver 
  3. David Russell

 

Open Instrumental

  1. Cecil Gurganus
  2. Steve Bing
  3. Briar McDowell

 

Banjo

  1. Travis Watts
  2. Christopher Ward
  3. Adam Beshears

Dance

  1. Candace Noah
  2. Art Lang
  3. Avery Clapp

 

Fiddle

  1. Christen Blanton
  2. Carrie Webster
  3. Charlie Tolbert
 

Guitar

  1. Tae Childress
  2. Graham Ferrell
  3. Elijah Smith
 

Band

  1. Loyle Dawson & Slick Quivers
  2. Mountain Blessings
  3. The Zinc Kings

2022 Winners

Folk Singing

  1. Cathy Fink
  2. Lily Harwell
  3. Cary Moskovitz

 

Open Instrumental

  1. Marcy Marxer
  2. Roberta Kogut
  3. Bobby Fields
 

Mandolin

  1. William Roberts
  2. Tae Childress
  3. N/A
 

Banjo

  1. Cathy Fink
  2. Travis Watts
  3. Frankie Key

Dance

  1. Phil Jamison
  2. Candace Noah
  3. Stomper White

 

Fiddle

  1. Christen Blanton
  2. Charlie Tolbert
  3. Howard Naughton
 

Guitar

  1. Tae Childress
  2. Andy Trivette
  3. Lloyd Richardson
 

Twin Fiddle

  1. Cecil Gurganus / Norah Cool
  2. Greyson Leybourne / Christen Blanton
  3. Steve Bing / Donna Bing
 

Band

  1. The Wilkes Record Players
  2. The Big Deal Band
  3. Gold Tones
  4. Glory in the Meetinghouse
  5. Rambling Fever Bluegrass
  6. Overmountain Pickers

2019 Winners

Folk Singing

  1. Christon Blanton
  2. Kathleen Burnett
  3. Anneli Burnett
 

Open Instrumental

  1. Mel Jones
  2. Art Lang
  3. Jade Alexander
 

Mandolin

  1. Brandon Johnson
  2. Alex Edwards
  3. William Roberts
 

Banjo

  1. Alex Edwards (Master Banjo) 2017, 18 & 19 Winner
  2. Jeremy Glasgow
  3. Dawson Clark

Dance

  1. Anneli Burnett
  2. Art Lang
  3. Donnie Cline
 

Fiddle

  1. Anissa Burnett
  2. Christen Blanton
  3. John Hofmann
 

Guitar

  1. Tommy Chandler
  2. Tom Horton
  3. Vincent Bullins
 

Twin Fiddle

  1. Marissa Colter / John Hofmann
  2. Bob Kogut / Athira Krishna
  3. Steve Bing/ Donna Bing
 

Band

  1. Blue Harvest 
  2. The Fork Lickers
  3. Zinc Kings
  4. Brushy Mtn. Buddies
  5. Blackberry Jam
  6. Disqualified Old Geezers

2018 Winners

Folk Singing

  1. Lily Harwell
  2. David Russell
  3. Christine Blanton
 

Open Instrumental

  1. Christine Olsen
  2. Graham Ferrell
  3. Art Lang
 

Mandolin

  1. Jonah Horton (Master Mandolin) 2016, 17 & 18 Winner
  2. David Wiseman
  3. Caleb Coatney
 

Old Time Banjo

  1. Henry Coatney (2017 and 2018 Winner)
  2. Caleb Coatney
  3. Ashlee Watkins

Flatfoot Dance

  1. Aaron Ratcliffe
  2. Anneli Burnett
  3. Art Lang
 

Old Time Fiddle

  1. Christen Blanton
  2. Willow Dillon
  3. John Hofmann
 

Guitar

  1. Randy Blevins
  2. Graham Ferrell
  3. David Russell
 

Bluegrass Fiddle

  1. Cody Bauer
  2. John Hofmann
  3. Jacob Turnbill

Bluegrass Banjo

  1. Alex Edwards
  2. Judo Aaron Allison
  3. Carter Wilson
 

Twin Fiddle

  1. Andres Small / Bob Herring
  2. Ella Thomas / Kristen Harris
  3. Emily Wait / Ben Riesser
 

Old Time Bands

  1. Tater Hill Mashers (2017 and 2018)
  2. Brushy Mtn. Buddies
  3. Zinc Kings
  4. New Macedon Rangers
 

Bluegrass Bands

  1. The Jakes from State Farm
  2. Turkey Creek
  3. Blue Harvest
  4. Thomas Family Band
  5. Piedmont Mt. Grass

2017 Winners

Open

  1. Kathleen Burnett
  2. Christen Blanton
  3. Mary Holloway

Autoharp

  1. Michael Poole
  2. Doug Pratt
  3. Christine Olsen

Mandolin

  1. Jonah Horton
  2. William Roberts
  3. Zeb Gambill

Old Time Banjo

  1. Henry Coatney
  2. Caleb Coatney
  3. David Burns

Flatfoot Dance

  1. Dane Summers
  2. Forest Doyle
  3. Aaron Ratcliffe
 

Old Time Fiddle

  1. John Hoffman
  2. Anneli Burnett
  3. Christen Blanton

Guitar

  1. Vincent Bullins
  2. Austin Simonds
  3. Alex Edwards

Bluegrass Fiddle

  1. Ruth Shumway
  2. Emma John
  3. Marissa Colter
 

Bluegrass Banjo

  1. Alex Edwards
  2. Carter Wilson
  3. Jacob Carroll
 

Twin Fiddle

  1. Emma Johns/John Hofmann
  2. Anissa & Kathleen Burnett
  3. Andrew Small/Ashlee Watkins
 

Old Time Bands

  1. Tater Hill Mashers
  2. Suger Top Swains
  3. Zinc Kings
  4. High Ridge Pickers
  5. Bears in the Attic
 

Bluegrass Bands

  1. Blue Harvest
  2. Round Up
  3. Gaining Ground
  4. Carolina Crossroads
  5. Double Duty

2016 Winners

Open

  1. Danny Wicker
  2. Kathleen Burnett
  3. Emma Harwell
 

Autoharp

  1. Christine Olsen
  2. Art Lang
  3. Michael Poole
 

Mandolin

  1. Jonah Horton
  2. Caleb Coatney
  3. William Roberts
 

Old Time Banjo

  1. Caleb Coatney
  2. Henry Coatney
  3. Jared Boyd

Flatfoot Dance

  1. Dane Summers
  2. Cade Vissge
  3. Anneli Burnett
 

Old Time Fiddle

  1. Jacob Bowen
  2. Willow Dillon
  3. Cecil Gurganus
 

Guitar

  1. Presley Barker
  2. Danny Wicker
  3. Daniel Thrailkill
 

Bluegrass Fiddle

  1. Ruth Shumway
  2. Jacob Bowen
  3. Jacob Turnbill

Bluegrass Banjo

  1. Sawyer Whitman
  2. Alex Edwards
  3. David Bruce
 

Twin Fiddle

  1. Kathleen & Anissa Burnett
  2. Willow Dillon & Cecil Gurganus
  3. Tori Jones & Madison Elmore
 

Old Time Bands

  1. Strictly Strings
  2. Zephr Lighting Bolts
  3. Five Points Rounders
  4. Tater Hill Mashers
  5. High Ridge Pickers
 

Bluegrass Bands

  1. Trail Blazers
  2. Double Duty
  3. Forty West
  4. Appalachian Tradition
  5. Blue Moon Bluegrass

2015 Winners

Open

  1. Beth Smith
  2. Rick Ramseur
  3. Chrisin Blanton
 

Autoharp

  1. Doug Pratt
  2. Michael Poole
  3. Art Lang
 

Mandolin

  1. Eric McMurray
  2. Zack Arnold
  3. Caleb Coatney
 

Old Time Banjo

  1. Ben Reisser
  2. John Herrmann
  3. Willow Dillon

Flatfoot Dance

  1. Phoebe Douthwaite
  2. Linda Block
  3. Forest Doyle
 

Old Time Fiddle

  1. David Bass
  2. Kathleen Burnett
  3. Ruth Shumway
 

Guitar

  1. Presley Barker
  2. Tyler Thompson
  3. Zack Arnold
 

Bluegrass Fiddle

  1. Kitty Amaral
  2. Ruth Shumway
  3. Laura Smith

Bluegrass Banjo

  1. Keaton McMillan
  2. Trey Wellington
  3. Carter Wilson
 

Twin Fiddle

  1. Cecil Gurganus & Willow Dillon
  2. Ruth Shumway & John Hoffman
  3. Anessa Burnett & Kathleen Burnett
 

Old Time Bands

  1. Down South Ramblers
  2. Strictly Strings
  3. High Ridge Pickers
  4. Five Points Rounders
  5. Ready Creek Tick Pickers
 

Bluegrass Bands

  1. Turkey Creek
  2. Clay Bank
  3. Shadow Crass
  4. Paddle Creek
  5. Gaining Ground

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© Ray J. Norris - All rights reserved.

Licensed to Happy Valley Fiddlers 

Junior Appalachian Musicians Showcase

10:30am — 3:00pm

2019 Winners