The 13th Appalachian String Band Music Festival at Camp Washington-Carver in Clifftop, W.Va., wrapped up Sunday, Aug. 4. During the event, some of the nation’s finest string band musicians and old-time dancers won prizes in four old-time “traditional” contests—fiddle, banjo, string band and flat-foot dance—plus one “non-traditional” string band contest.
More than 3,000 people attended the festival, which began Wednesday, July 31. The annual gathering features concerts, contests, crafts, dancing and workshops. Next year’s festival will be held July 30-Aug. 3, 2003.
The contest winners were:
Fiddle
1st place ($400) - Rhys Jones of Chicago, Ill.
2nd place ($200) - Mark Simós of Watertown, Mass.
3rd place ($150) - Jake Krack of Orma, W.Va.
4th place ($100) - Lester McCumbers of Nicut, W.Va.
5th place ($50) - David Smith of Aurora, Ill.
Youth Fiddle Honors - 15 years of age and under
1st place ($100) - Zack Fanok of Morgantown, W.Va.
2nd place ($50) - Amanda Morrison of Big Prairie, Ohio
3rd place ($25) - Jarred Nutter of Meadow Bridge, W.Va.
Senior Fiddle Honors - 60 years of age and over
1st place ($200) - Lester McCumbers of Nicut, W.Va.
2nd place ($100) - Junior Spencer of Frankford, W.Va.
3rd place ($50) - J. P. Fraley of Denton, Ky.
Banjo
1st place ($400) - Brian Zain of Stuart, Va.
2nd place ($200) - Bob Smakula of Elkins, W.Va.
3rd place ($150) - Marvin Gaster of Sanford, N.C.
4th place ($100) - Tom Sauber of Arcadia, Calif.
5th place ($50) - Joe Newberry of Durham, N.C.
Youth Banjo Honors - 15 years of age and under
1st place ($100) - Seth Swingle of Earlysville, Va.
2nd place ($50) - Joanna Hartness of Greensboro, N.C.
3rd place ($25) - Trinity Kronk of Sewickley, Pa.
Senior Banjo Honors - 60 years of age and over
1st place ($200) - Marvin Gaster of Sanford, N.C.
2nd place ($100) - Jimmy McCown of Chesapeake, Ohio
3rd place ($50) - Charlie Loudermilk of Frankford, W.Va.
Traditional Band
1st place ($700) - Big Medicine of Raleigh, N.C.
2nd place ($400) - The Cliff Hangers of Weaverville, N.C.
3rd place ($300) - The No-Seeums of Chapel Hill, N.C.
4th place ($200) - Rhys’ Pieces of Chicago, Ill.
5th place ($100) - Reed Island Rounders of Hillsville, Pa.
Non-Traditional Band
1st place ($700) - Synch-A-Therapy of Breaux Bridge, La.
2nd place ($400) - Ice Water of Ashville, N.C.
3rd place ($300) - Mando Mafia of Barboursville, Va.
4th place ($200) - Don Knotts the Buffalo of Black Mountain,
N.C.
5th place ($100) - The Hula Cats of Marshall, N.C.
Old-Time Flat-Foot Dance - ages 15 and under
1st place ($75) - Emma Leahy-Good of Spring Valley, Ohio
2nd place ($50) - Becky Hill of Nashville, Mich.
3rd place ($25) - Trinity Kronk of Sewickley, Pa.
Old-Time Flat-Foot Dance - ages 16 through 49
1st place ($75) - Sharon Leahy of Spring Valley, Ohio
2nd place ($50) - Andrea Edmonstone of Tucker, Ga.
3rd place ($25) - Sarah Owen of Marshall, N.C.
Old-Time Flat-Foot Dance - 50 years of age and over
1st place ($75) - Ed Carson of Hot Rock, Tenn.
2nd place ($50) - Rock Howland of Mt. Airy, Md.
3rd place ($25) - Charlie Burton of Harmony, Pa.
Camp Washington-Carver is located adjacent to Babcock State Park
just off Rt. 60 (Midland Trail) on Rt. 41. Promotional sponsors of
the festival were Groovy 94.1, 103CIR, WTNJ, and Mountain River
Tours.
The Appalachian String Band Music Festival is a program of the West
Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History. For more information call
(304) 558-0220.
The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Visit the Division’s website at www.wvculture.org for more information about programs of the Division. The Department of Arts, Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.