A Little About the Contest

The Northwest Regional Fiddle Contest had its start in 1969 in Spokane, at Trent Elementary School.  This years Contest, the 40th Annual, will be held April 19th & 20th, 2008 in Spokane Washington.

This contest is one of the largest of this kind in the area. It includes contestants from: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Alaska, British Columbia, Alberta & Saskatchewan.

Some of the top national fiddlers, as well as many state and regional champions, will be competing in the eight certified fiddle divisions at this year’s two day affair. 

The divisions are: Small Fry under 9, Junior Junior under 13, Junior undefiddlecontest.htmlr 18, Young Adult 18 – 36, Adult 37 – 59, Senior and Senior Senior 60 +, and Championship Open.  The winners of each division will be certified for the National Fiddle Contest in Weiser, Idaho.

Judging is done by remote control to a room removed from the stage.  This way, the judges do not see the contestants, or hear announcements of the contestant’s names or hear the audience applause.  They hear only the tunes as they are played and broadcast to the judge’s room.  The contestants are judged on timing, dance ability, tone and difficulty.

Each contestant plays three tunes per round: a hoe-down, a waltz, and a third tune of their choice other than a hoe-down or a waltz. No tune can be repeated by a contestant during the contest, and each round must be kept under four minutes of playing time or points are deducted from the contestants score. All this is combined for exciting listening and high-powered competition.

The Northwest Regional Fiddle Contest is being presented by, the Northwest Regional Contest Committee. They are a non-profit organization stemming from the Washington Old Time Fiddler’s Association.

Their Objectives are:

• To promote and perpetuate Old-Time Fiddling and Folk Music.
• To encourage young people to develop their music talents and afford them opportunities to perform in public thereby improving their spiritual, mental, social and physical condition and thus better preparing themselves for become successful citizens.
• To hold jam sessions for the members own enjoyment, as well as educating the public to the values of this type of entertainment.

Thank you for your support of our contest!

If you have any questions, please call
Ed Miller 509-228-9030