Fiddle & Banjo Contests and Spelling Bee...
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West Virginia State Folk Festival
CONTESTS

  • Some Fiddle & Banjo Contest information
  • 2003 Winners
  • 2002 Winners
  • 2001 Winners
  • 2000 Winners
  • 1999 Winners
  • 1998 Winners
  • Some Spelling Bee information
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    Fiddle & Banjo Contest Information

    Fiddle & Banjo Contests will be held in the GSC Fine Arts Center at the corner of Court and High Streets. Contests for for contestants 50 and older are held on Friday at 2:00 p.m. Contests for contestants under 50 years old are held on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

    Contestants should show up back stage to register before the 2 p.m. contest. Each contestant will be expected to perform two pieces of old-time music. They will be allowed one accompanist, such as a guitar, etc. Contestants will announce the name of each song just prior to playing it.

    The Fine Arts Center has a modern air conditioned auditorium, so the contests provide the audience not only top notch entertainment, but also a welcome rest in comfortable seats. That more than makes up for the lack of old-fashioned decor.

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    2003 Winners

    Over 50 Fiddle
    1st - Lester McCumbers, Nicut, WV
    2nd - Terry Vaughn, Cross Lanes, WV
    3rd - Gerry Milnes, Elkins, WV

         Over 50 Banjo
    1st - Carl Baron, Gwynned, PA
    2nd - Gerry Milnes, Elkins, WV
    3rd - Bernard Cyrus, Fort Gay, WV

    Under 50 Fiddle
    1st - Greg Buergler, Bethesda, MD
    2nd - Jack Krack, Nicut, WV
    3rd - Jesse Milnes, Elkins, WV

         Under 50 Banjo
    1st - Jesse Milnes, Elkins, WV
    2nd - Paul Gartner, Sod, WV
    3rd - Cris Coole, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Spelling Bee Over 16
    1st - Hugh McGough, Glenville, WV
    2nd - Sheree Henderson, Glenville, WV
    3rd - Brad McPherson, Glenville, WV

         Spelling Bee Under 16
    1st - Danielle Wood, Normantown, WV
    2nd - Caitlin Dalzell, Culloden, WV
    3rd - Latasha Henderson, Glenville, WV

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    2002 Winners

    Over 50 Fiddle
    1st - Lester McCumbers, Calhoun County
    2nd - Elmer Rich, Westover, WV
    3rd - Terry Vaughn, Cross Lanes, WV

         Over 50 Banjo
    1st - Eugene Parsons, Orma, WV
    2nd - Bernard Cyrus, Big Herrington Creek, WV
    3rd - Diane Jones, Massy, MD

    Under 50 Fiddle
    1st - Scout Prouty, Washington, DC
    2nd - Jesse Milnes, Elkins, WV
    3rd - Betty Vornbroch, Hillsville, VA

         Under 50 Banjo
    1st - Bob Smakula, Elkins, WV
    2nd - Andy Fitzgivin, Elkins, WV
    3rd - Vinnie Farsetta, Nashville, TN

    Spelling Bee Over 16
    1st - Kent Davis, Marietta, OH
    2nd - Mark Turner, Bellingham, WA
    3rd - Amanda White, Normantown, WV
         Spelling Bee Under 16
    1st - Emily Swiger, Fairmont, WV
    2nd - Jessica Cana, Glenville, WV
    3rd - Latasha Henderson, Glenville, WV

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    2001 Winners

    Over 50 Fiddle
    1st - Lester McCumbers, Calhoun County
    2nd - Carl Baron, Philadelphia, PA
    3rd - Lefty Shafer, Charleston, WV

         Over 50 Banjo
    1st - Carl Baron, Philadelphia, PA
    2nd - Diane Jones, Massy, MD
    3rd - Eugene Parsons

    Under 50 Fiddle
    1st - Jake Krack, Calhoun County
    2nd - Zack Fanok, Monongalia County
    3rd - Betty Vornbach, Hillsville, VA

         Under 50 Banjo
    1st - Vinnie Farsetta, Nashville, TN
    2nd - Bob Smakula, Randolph County
    3rd - Kate Brett, Beltsville, MD

    Spelling Bee Over 16
    1st - Rebecca Dalzell, Clay, WV
    2nd - Amanda White, Normantown, WV
    3rd - Sarah Frazure, Glenville, WV
         Spelling Bee Under 16
    1st - Wesley Marsh, Glenville, WV
    2nd - Caitlin Dalzell, Clay, WV
    3rd - Jessica Cana, Glenville, WV

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    2000 Winners

    Over 50 Fiddle
    1st - Gerry Milnes, Randolph County
    2nd - Lester McCumbers, Calhoun County
    3rd - Melvin Wine, Braxton County

         Over 50 Banjo
    1st - Jim Costa, Greenbrier County
    2nd - Eugene Parsons, Calhoun County
    3rd - Gerry Milnes, Randolph County

    Under 50 Fiddle
    1st - SJake Krack, Calhoun County
    2nd - Betty Vornbach, Hillsville, VA
    3rd - Zack Fanok, Monongalia County

         Under 50 Banjo
    1st - Tim Bing, Roane County
    2nd - Bob Smakula, Randolth County
    3rd - Paul Gartner, Lincoln County

    Spelling Bee Over 16
    1st - Monica Sainz, Glenville, WV
    2nd - Sharon Brannon, Cerdarville, WV
    3rd - Amanda White, Normantown, WV
         Spelling Bee Under 16
    1st - Mike Sint, French Creek WV
    2nd - Wesley Marsh
    3rd - Jessica Cano, Glenville, WV

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    1999 Winners

    Over 50 Fiddle
    1st - Melvin Wine, Braxton County
    2nd - J.P. Fraley, Kentucky
    3rd - Gerry Milnes, Randolph County

         Over 50 Banjo
    1st - Gerry Milnes, Randolph County
    2nd - Eugene Parsons, Calhoun County
    3rd - Carroll Hardway, Calhoun County

    Under 50 Fiddle
    1st - Scout Prouty, Randolph County
    2nd - Ron Kohl, Boone, NC
    3rd - Betty Vornbach, Hillsville, VA

         Under 50 Banjo
    1st - Pam Lund, RandolphCounty
    2nd - Tim Bing, Roane County
    3rd - Paul Gartner, Lincoln County

    Spelling Bee Over 16
    1st - Doris Norman, Gilmer County
    2nd - Becky Kimmons, Kanawha County
    3rd - Kent Davis, Raleigh County
         Spelling Bee Under 16
    1st - Mike Sint, Upshur County
    2nd - Jesse James, Jackson County
    3rd - Chris Kimmons, Kanawha County

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    1998 Winners

    Over 50 Fiddle
    1st - Lester McCumbers, Calhoun County
    2nd - Melvin Wine, Braxton County
    3rd - Woody Simmons, Randolph County

         Over 50 Banjo
    1st - Ben Carr, Braxton County
    2nd - Carroll Hardway, Calhoun County
    3rd - Carl Baron, Philadelphia, PA

    Under 50 Fiddle
    1st - Scout Prouty, Randolph County
    2nd - Doug VanGrundy, Pocahontas County
    3rd - Mark Campbell, Richmond, VA

         Under 50 Banjo
    1st - Ron Mullennex, Randolph County
    2nd - Tom Hoffman, Randolph County
    3rd - Kate Brett, Greenbelt, MD

    Spelling Bee Over 16
    1st - Rebecca Dalzell
    2nd - Jennifer James
    3rd - Cortney Collins
         Spelling Bee Under 16
    1st - Jesse James
    2nd - Caitlin Wiseman

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    Spelling Bee Information

    Spelling words are taken from the McGuffey Reader lists and is usually held on Saturday afternoon. Check the schedule of events in the festival newspaper for the specific location and time.

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    West Virginia State Folk Festival - Contests
    For more information, e-mail wvfolkfestival
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