At Athens State University’s Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention…A “Fiddle Champ” is Crowned

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Fiddle Champ Mark Ralph (center) with Rick Mould (left) and Gayle Davis (right) of the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention

ATHENS– Mark Ralph was named “Fiddle Champion” at the 49th annual Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention at Athens State University Saturday night on the Alabama Farmer’s Cooperative Main Stage.  The Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention is the home of the Alabama State Fiddle Champion.

Mark Ralph of Somerville, Alabama, won the title by winning the “fiddle off” which pits the top fiddlers from the junior, intermediate, and senior divisions.   Andrew Lin of Lexington, Kentucky finished runner-up.   Ralph, who won the senior 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.

Photos from the day courtesy of Athens State University:

49th ANNUAL TENNESSEE VALLEY
OLD TIME FIDDLERS CONVENTION
WINNERS

HARMONICA
Name Address
First Rob Pearcy Smyrna, TN
Second Micah McCreary Section, AL
Third Tommy Bounds Sylacauga, AL
Fourth Rick Brandt Hoover, AL
Fifth Gene Banks Athens, TX

MANDOLIN
Name Address
First Tyler Andal White House, TN
Second Daniel Amick Centerville, TN
Third Justin Branum Nashville, TN
Fourth Bobby Nobley Wedowee, AL
Fifth Joel Whittinghill Bowling Green, KY
BLUEGRASS BANJO
Name Address
First Joey Gipson Manchester, TN
Second Barry Waldrep LaGrange, GA
Third Will MacLean Nashville, TN
Fourth Daniel Amick Centerville, TN
Fifth Barry Palmer Cleveland, GA
DOBRO
Name Address
First Damion Kidd Elkmont, AL
Second Rob Pearcy Smyrna, TN
Third Steven Smiley Toney, AL
Fourth Joey Gipson Manchester, TN
Fifth Daniel Amick Centerville, TN
DULCIMER
Name Address
First Rob Pearcy Smyrna, TN
Second Craig Mann Cullman, AL
Third Daniel Amick Centerville, TN
Fourth Tyler Andal White House, TN
Fifth Tommy Bounds Sylacauga, AL

OLD-TIME SINGING
Name Address
First Amanda McKenney Cullman, AL
Second Lance Pitts Athens, AL
Third Tommy & Taylor Bounds Sylacauga, AL
Fourth Hunter Patterson Cullman, AL
Fifth Ed Norman Durham, NC

BEGINNING FIDDLER
(10 & under)
Name Address
First David Lin Lexington, KY
Second Meredith Hudson Gordo, AL
Third Maddie McKenney Cullman, AL
Fourth Abby Vaughn Berry, AL
Fifth Ava Wade Nashville, TN

GUITAR – FINGER PICKING
Name Address
First Barry Waldrep LaGrange, GA
Second Gene Banks Athens, TX
Third Jimmy Joe Bratcher Unionville, TN
Fourth Daniel Amick Centerville, TN
Fifth Matthew Templin Jemison, AL

OLD TIME BANJO
Name Address
First Austin Derryberry Shelbyville, TN
Second Daniel Amick Centerville, TN
Third Luke Richardson Lawrenceburg, TN
Fourth Barry Waldrep LaGrange, GA
Fifth Chris Casbarro Chattanooga, TN
GUITAR – FLAT PICKING
Name Address
First Joel Whittinghill Bowling Green, KY
Second Dylan Smith Rydal, GA
Third Daniel Amick Centerville, TN
Fourth Rob Pearcy Smyrna, TN
Fifth Brad Bulla Brentwood, TN
APPRENTICE FIDDLER
(Age 11-15)
Name Address
First Matthew Lin Lexington, KY
Second Benjamin Lin Lexington, KY
Third Beth Davis Carbondale, IL
Fourth Caleb Bryant Northport, AL
Fifth Kate Ward Kuttawa, KY
SENIOR FIDDLER
(Age 55+)
Name Address
First Gene Banks Athens, TX
Second Billy Brewer Lyles, TN
Third Tom Fonville Flint, TX
Fourth T-bone Daniels Lawrenceburg, TN
Fifth Roy Crawford Cullman, AL

CLASSIC OLD-TIME FIDDLER
Name Address
First Clecia Stefanini Nashville, TN
Second Austin Derryberry Shelbyville, TN
Third Rafe Stefanini Elkins Park, PA
Fourth Tyler Andal White House, TN
Fifth Luke Richardson Lawrenceburg, TN
BLUEGRASS BAND
Name Address
First Turkey Creek Band Kingsport, TN
Second Georgia Bama Line Woodstock, GA
Third Mountain Cove Bluegrass Chattanooga, TN
Fourth Cross Wind Olive Hill, TN
Fifth Boomtown Ardmore, TN
JUNIOR FIDDLER
(Age 16 – 34)
Name Address
First Andrew Lin Lexington, KY
Second Adam French Leitchfield, KY
Third Allie Hagan Nicholasville, TN
Fourth Tori Huntley Loretto, TN
Fifth Jacob Johnson Lincoln, AL
OLD TIME BAND
Name Address
First Uncle Shuffelo & His Haint Hollow Hootenanny Unionville, TN
Second Georgia Crackers
Third The Cornbread Mtn. Ramblers Nashville, TN
Fourth Slim Chance Band Smyrna, TN
Fifth Tennessee Pick Weeds Lawrenceburg, TN

INTERMEDIATE FIDDLER
(Age 35 – 54)

Name Address
First Mark Ralph Somerville, AL
Second Joel Whittinghill Bowling Green, KY
Third Johnny Ray Watts Lineville, AL
Fourth Erik Payton Millwood, KY
Fifth

BUCK DANCING
(15 & under)
Name Address
First Lexi Huntley Loretto, TN
Second Christiana Joneikis Shreve, OH
Third Meredith Elizabeth Hudson Gordo, AL
Fourth Abby Vaughn Berry, AL
Fifth

BUCK DANCING
(16 & over)
Name Address
First Kati Huntley Loretto, TN
Second Thomas Maupin Murfreesboro, TN
Third Tommy Jackson Franklin, TN
Fourth Tori Huntley Loretto, TN
Fifth

FIDDLE CHAMPION
Mark Ralph, Somerville, AL

media release/athens state university/guy mcclure

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