The 16th Appalachian String Band Music Festival at Camp Washington-Carver in Clifftop, W.Va., wrapped up Sunday, Aug. 7. 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 3,500 people attended the festival, which began Wednesday, Aug. 3. The annual gathering features concerts, contests, crafts, dancing and workshops. Next year’s festival will be held Aug. 2-6, 2006.
The contest winners were:
Fiddle
1st place ($400) - Jimmy Triplett of Ames, Iowa
2nd place ($200) - Eric Merrill of Jamaica Plains, Mass.
3rd place ($150) - Stephanie Coleman of Glenville, Ill.
4th place ($100) - Nick Pappas of Lexington, Ky.
5th place ($50) - Mark Simos of Watertown, Mass.
Youth Fiddle Honors - 15 years of age and under
1st place ($100) - Myra Morrison of Big Prairie, Ohio
2nd place ($50) - Isaac Akers of Chapel Hill, N.C.
3rd place ($25) - Maya Divitry of Lancaster, Pa.
Senior Fiddle Honors - 60 years of age and over
1st place ($200) - Speedy Tolliver of Arlington, Va.
2nd place ($100) - Dave Holmes of Marlinton, W.Va.
3rd place ($50) - Skip Ashby of Marshall, Va.
Banjo
1st place ($400) - Mac Traynham of Willis, Va.
2nd place ($200) - Nancy Sluys of Westfield, N.C.
3rd place ($150) - Adam Hurt of Morgantown, W.Va.
4th place ($100) - Pete Peterson of Riegelsville, Pa.
5th place ($50) - Marvin Gaster of Sanford, N.C.
Youth Banjo Honors - 15 years of age and under
1st place ($100) - Frank Evans of Toronto, Canada
2nd place ($50) - Joanna Hartness of Greensboro, N.C.
3rd place ($25) - Trinity Kronk of Petersburg, Pa.
Senior Banjo Honors - 60 years of age and over
1st place ($200) - Marvin Gaster of Sanford, N.C.
2nd place ($100) - Pete Peterson of Riegelsville, Pa.
3rd place ($50) - Eugene Parsons of Orma, W.Va.
Traditional Band
1st place ($700) - The Moonshine Monsters of Meadowbridge, W.Va.
2nd place ($400) - The Cliffhangers of Watertown, Mass.
3rd place ($300) - The Downward Dogs of Ithaca, N.Y.
4th place ($200) - Shoestring Ticklers of Beaufort, S.C.
5th place ($100) - Orpheus Supertones of Avondale, Pa.
Non-Traditional Band
1st place ($700) - Red Stick Ramblers of Eunice, La.
2nd place ($400) - Mando Mafia of Charlottesville, Va.
3rd place ($300) - The Hix of Philadelphia, Pa.
4th place ($200) - Sandia Hots of Alameda, N.M.
5th place ($100) - Neil Diamond in the Ruff of LaFayette, La.
Old-Time Flat-Foot Dance - ages 13 and under
1st place ($75) - Haley McGuigan of Hellam, Pa.
2nd place ($50) - Morganne Criswell of Decatur, Ill.
3rd place ($25) - Amanda Canfield of Lewisburg, W.Va.
Old-Time Flat-Foot Dance - ages 14 through 59
1st place ($75) - Gordy Hinners of Weaverville, N.C.
2nd place ($50) - Andy Edmonstone of Roswell, Ga.
3rd place ($25) - Ira Bernstein of Asheville, N.C.
Old-Time Flat-Foot Dance - 60 years of age and over
1st place ($75) - Thomas Mawpin of Murfreesboro, Tenn.
2nd place ($50) - Mary Butner of Winston-Salem, N.C.
3rd place ($25) - Carole Benedick of Winfield, Pa.
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