Musicians young and old pick through bluegrass tunes
Groups of musicians sat in circles Sunday afternoon in South Park strumming their instruments or listening to the concert performers during the 32nd annual Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships. Although it is a competition, a large part of the atmosphere of the event is music participation, camaraderie and jam sessions between performances.
“Jamming is like another language,” said Steve Mason, owner of Steve Mason Luthiers and Violin Shop. “You stand in a circle with a bunch of other people who speak that language and just speak it.”
Sixty-five contestants from Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas were entered in the eight categories and youth award for the 32nd annual Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championship.
Miscellaneous Acoustic Instrument
First place — Joe Pickett, Eudora
Second place — Ruth Byers, Lawrence
Ensemble Folk Singing
First place — Maggie Vogt and Abbey Vogt, Erie
Second place — Linnea Kyne and Gabriel Kyne, Kansas City, Mo.
Third place — Walt Babbit and Ardys Ramberg, Baldwin City
Youth Fiddle
First place — Elizabeth Poppe, Riley
Second place — Glen Sigler, Joplin, Mo.
Third place — Emily Koke, Overland Park
Open Fiddle
First place — Michael Thompson, Okla.
Second place — Jason Shaw, Lincoln, Neb.
Banjo
First place — Ken Plummer, Augusta
Second place — Peter Oviatt, Lawrence
Third place — Matt Oliphant, Chanute
Mandolin
First place — Jonah Chilton, Leawood
Second place — Jason Shaw, Lincoln, Neb.
Third place — Rick Faris, Topeka
Finger Style Guitar
First place — Thomas Silkman, Emporia
Second place — Kevin Hiatt, Kansas City, Mo.
Third place — Bruce Huss, Wichita
Flat pick guitar
First place — Jason Shaw, Lincoln, Neb.
Second place — John Shaw, Lincoln, Neb.
Third place — Ken Plummer, Augusta
Youth award
Josh Keegan, Lenexa
Mason was one of many music vendors at the event and has been a part of the championship since it was started. He’s competed, helped to organize the event and is proud to carry on the tradition of bluegrass music.
“You worry about your style of music dying out, but there’s a whole new generation of people coming out,” Mason said.
The Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championship originally started as the Douglas County championship in the hope that each county would have its own competition and the winners would then compete to be the state champion. After five years, it was clear the competitions should be combined to be one large state competition in Lawrence.
“There’s just a really strong, traditional music scene in the area,” championship director Gayle Sigurdson said.
The championship attracts locals as well as musicians from other states including Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri. Many of the contestants are second- or third-generation bluegrass musicians. Instruments range from common fiddles and violins to more unique instruments like the kazoo or nyckelharp. The eight competition categories, as well as a youth award, are open to anyone and allow contestants to compete in their niche. There is even a miscellaneous acoustic instrument category, so musicians can play whatever instrument they want, even if it isn’t traditionally considered a bluegrass instrument.
Sixty-five musicians were entered in the championships, including third-year contestant Tim Daniels, from Leavenworth. Daniels has played the fiddle for 54 years. He attends the event to hear other musicians and enters the competition because he enjoys the receptive audience and performing for a crowd.
“I don’t plan on winning; I just like to find people and play for them,” Daniels said.
Photo gallery: Fiddling around with an old-timey tradition
photo by: John Young
photo by: John Young
photo by: John Young