Branson’s Olde Time Fiddle Festival on Saturday attracted fiddlers from seven states. The winners took home over $4,000 in cash prizes and trophies.
The Old Time Traditional Style Division winners:
1st Monte Gaylord, Oolagah, OK; 2nd Bubba Hopkins, Spavinaw, OK; 3rd Justin Branum, Kirkwood, MO; 4th Kyle Link, Grove Springs, MO; 5th Vi Wickaw, Evansville, IN
Texas Style winners:
1st Wes Westmoreland, Temple, TX; 2nd Cody Marriott, Ava, MO; 3rd Alita Stoneking, Springfield, MO; 4th Deana Bistodeau, Princeton, MN; 5th Scott Cheek, Lynchburg, MO
Senior Division (age 60 and over) winners
1st Earl Garner, Elkhart, TX; 2nd Les Tucker, Woodburn, OR
Junior Division (age 12 to 15 years) winners:
1st Rachel Mayanovic, Springfield, MO; 2nd Cara Oliphant, Chanute, KS; 3rd, Hunter Wray, Wimberly, TX; 4th Jackson Herbst, Napoleon, MO; 5th Andrew Romano, Huggins, MO.
Youth Division (up to age 12) winners:
1st Taylor Sullivan, Clinton, MO; 2nd Sedra Bistodeau, Princeton, MN; 3rd Jake Duncan, Jenks, OK; 4th Michael Thompson, Rose, OK; 5th Matthew Oliphant, Chanute, KS.
In the playoff between the winner of the Texas Style and the winner of the Old Time Traditional Style, Monte Gaylord won the trophy.
The top players were selected for the evening final rounds. In each round, fiddlers were required to play three tunes from memory, a waltz, a hoedown and a tune of choice.
This was the 18th Annual Old Time Fiddle Contest in Branson, sponsored by the Downtown Branson Main Street Association. The event aims to maintain the traditions of American fiddling and to inspire young musicians who are interested in fiddle music.
Corporate sponsors for the event were: Dick’s Old Time 5 & 10, Apple Market, Best Western Landing View Inn & Suites, First Community Bank, CenturyTel, Bailey House Bed & Breakfast of Appleton City, Naturegraphics, 2 Fluffy Women Musical Comedy Show, and Branson Daily News.