Fiddle Competition

In the Charles A. Brown Ice House on the Celtic Classic Grounds
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2009

2009 Fiddle Competition Winners

1st Place: $100: Chelsea Hadden
2nd Place: $50: Julia Lipkis
3rd Place: $25: Stephanie Underwood

Age 12 and Under Novice Division:

1st Place: $75: Alex Weir
2nd Place: $50: Cameron Bell
3rd Place: $25: Lucy Zhang

WHAT IS THE CELTIC CLASSIC FIDDLE COMPETITION?
The Celtic Classic Fiddle Competition takes place in the historic Charles A. Brown Ice House, an indoor venue on the grounds of the Celtic Classic. This is a unique contest focused specifically on Celtic fiddling styles, including Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, Shetland, Orkney and Galician. For participants and audience members alike, it is an educational and entertaining event. Young fiddlers of all playing levels and from many different backgrounds will perform both traditional dance tunes and slow airs from the Celtic lands. The contest is segmented into two divisions, depending on age. Three prizes are awarded in each category.

WHAT TUNES OR STYLES WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR COMPETITION?
Most fiddle competitions that take place in the U.S. focus more on traditional American styles such as Bluegrass, Texas Swing, Cajun, New England and Appalachian Old-Timey. While many of these playing styles evolved from the original Irish and Scottish, this contest celebrates the older tradition of fiddling developed originally by the Celtic peoples. Traditional dance tunes such as jigs, reels, hornpipes, slip jigs, slides, mazurkas, polkas, strathspeys and schottishes are all appropriate, as are listening tunes such as O’Carolan compositions and slow airs. Each contestant should choose three tunes of varying form and tempo to perform. The total playing time should not exceed 5 ½ minutes. Therefore, it is recommended that you perform the three tunes as a “set” to make the best use of the time allotted each contestant. If you exceed the playing time, the judges will stop judging and deduct points from your total score. A fiddler is encouraged to use an accompanist such as piano or guitar, but it is not required, and the accompanist must not double the melody line. (Keyboard is not provided).

WHAT ARE THE JUDGES LOOKING FOR IN A PERFORMANCE?
First, the judges will be looking for basic playing technique such as quality of tone, intonation, bowing, clarity of playing, rhythm and tempo. Secondly, they will be looking at the choice of tunes, the level of difficulty, and their cohesiveness as a set. Thirdly, the judges will be assessing the player’s interpretation of that fiddling style and the use of bowing and ornamentation to convey the mood of the tune. Fourthly, they will be considering the overall performance and stage presence of the player. The judges are professional fiddlers or traditional Celtic musicians, performers and recording artists.

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Fiddle Competition

In the Charles A. Brown Ice House on the Celtic Classic Grounds SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2009

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In the Charles A. Brown Ice House on the Celtic Classic Grounds
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2009