ATHENS-Joel Whittinghill was named “Fiddle Champion” at the 47th annual Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers
: Left to Right: Athens State’s Vice President for University Advancement Rick Mould, Fiddle Champ Joel Whittinghill, and Gayle Davis of the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention Committee
Convention at Athens State University on Saturday night.
Whittinghill of Bowling Green, Kentucky, won the title by winning the “fiddle off” which traditionally pits the top fiddlers from the junior and senior divisions. Wayne Jerrolds of Savannah, Tennessee finished runner-up. Whittinghill, who won the junior fiddle division, earned the convention’s top prize of $1,000.
The convention is sponsored by the Athens State University Foundation and the Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce. The convention has contributed more than $500,000 to Athens State to fund student scholarships and university projects.
See Photos of the event here.
47th ANNUAL TENNESSEE VALLEY
OLD TIME FIDDLERS CONVENTION
WINNERS
HARMONICA
Name Address
First Ken Tenpenny Murfreesboro, TN
Second Eddie Ogle Roanoke, VA
Third Tommy Bounds Sylacauga, AL
Fourth Blake Russell Athens, AL
Fifth Daisy Millett Parsley, FL
MANDOLIN
Name Address
First Tyler Andal Nashville, TN
Second Joel Whittinghill Bowling Green, KY
Third Bobby Nobley LaGrange, GA
Fourth Brian Christianson Nashville, TN
Fifth Rob Pearcy Smyrna, TN
BLUEGRASS BANJO
Name Address
First Collins Miller Arab, AL
Second Weston Stewart Anderson, AL
Third Kevin Molt Huntsville, AL
Fourth Barry Waldrep Atlanta, GA
Fifth Julie Keeton Leighton, AL
DOBRO
Name Address
First Wesley Allen Alpine, AL
Second Steven Smiley Harvest, AL
Third Weston Stewart Anderson, AL
Fourth Rob Pearcy Smyrna, TN
Fifth Frannie DiGiovanni Greenbrier, TN
DULCIMER
Name Address
First Rob Pearcy Smyrna, TN
Second Wesley Allen Alpine, AL
Third Lou Beasley Huntsville, AL
Fourth Homer Osborne Harvest, AL
Fifth Bobby Nobley LaGrange, GA
OLD-TIME SINGING
Name Address
First Mitch Scott Arab, AL
Second Roman Locklear Hayden, AL
Third Tommy & Taylor Bounds Sylacauga, AL
Fourth Gilbert Sewell Pikeville, TN
Fifth Stephanie Cook & Charlie Hunter Trussville, AL
BEGINNING FIDDLER
(10 & under)
Name Address
First Benjamin Lin Lexington, KY
Second Giri Peters Nashville, TN
Third Anna Vaughn Berry, AL
Fourth David Lin Lexington, KY
Fifth Gage Sanford Northport, AL
GUITAR – FINGER PICKING
Name Address
First James Wood Fairview, TN
Second Scooter Muse Florence, AL
Third Chris Casbarro Florence, AL
Fourth Daniel Amick Pleasantville, TN
Fifth Ken Hinkle Madison, AL
OLD TIME BANJO
Name Address
First Tyler Andal Nashville, TN
Second Charlie Hunter Birmingham, AL
Third Rob Pearcy Smyrna, TN
Fourth Rebekah Weiler Marietta, GA
Fifth Daniel Amick Pleasantville, TN
GUITAR – FLAT PICKING
Name Address
First Joel Whittinghill Bowling Green, KY
Second Adam Wright Goodlettsville, TN
Third Tyler Andal Nashville, TN
Fourth Brad Bulla Spring Hill, TN
Fifth Daniel Amick Pleasantville, TN
BEGINNING FIDDLER
(Age 11-15)
Name Address
First Andrew Lin Lexington, KY
Second Jacob Johnson Lincoln, AL
Third Caleb Bryant Northport, AL
Fourth Matthew Lin Lexington, KY
Fifth Cara DiGiovanni Greenbrier, TN
SENIOR FIDDLER
Name Address
First Wayne Jerrolds Savannah, TN
Second Roy Crawford Cullman, AL
Third T-Bone Daniels Lawrenceburg, TN
Fourth Tony Haley Mt. Juliet, TN
Fifth Chuck Reeves Oakman, AL
CLASSIC OLD-TIME FIDDLER
Name Address
First Brian Christianson Nashville, TN
Second Tyler Andal White House, TN
Third Nikos Poppos Tuscaloosa, AL
Fourth Chris Casbarro Florence, AL
Fifth Mikaela Langley Camden, TN
BLUEGRASS BAND
Name Address
First New Home Somerville, AL
Second Straight-Line Grass Nashville, TN
Third Blue South Athens, AL
Fourth The Fransiscos Cedar Bluff, AL
Fifth Freshwater Creek
JUNIOR FIDDLER
Name Address
First Joel Whittinghill Bowling Green, KY
Second Grant Rigney Normandy, TN
Third Adam French Leitchfield, KY
Fourth Samantha Cunningham Versailles, KY
Fifth Kori Puckett Decatur, AL
OLD TIME BAND
Name Address
First Slim Chance Band Somerville, AL
Second Appalachee Relay Nashville, TN
Third Someday Soon
Fourth Dickerson Stampede Band Nashville, TN
Fifth Flat Creek String Band Shelbyville, TN
BUCK DANCING
(15 & under)
Name Address
First Ivy Phillips Chapmansboro, TN
Second Kati Huntley Loretta, TN
Third Christiana Joneikis Shreve, OH
Fourth Lexi Huntley Loretto, TN
Fifth Cara DiGiovanni Greenbrier, TN
BUCK DANCING
(16 & over)
Name Address
First Thomas Maupin Murfreesboro, TN
Second Hillary Bevals Shelbyville, TN
Third Tommy Jackson Franklin, TN
Fourth Christopher Gray Smyrna, TN
Fifth
FIDDLE CHAMPION
Joel Whittinghill
