Willamette Valley Fiddle Contest Corvallis, Oregon August 4, 2012 Starr McMullen writes: We had 43 contestants and a great contest---LOTS of kids---21 kids 12 or under including 4 year old Cameron Cooley of Eugene. The Corvallis Gazette Times had a great article today---started on Page 1 and continued with a full page spread complete with pictures of lots of kids on the front page of the regional/local section. Thanks so much to our sponsors, especially OOFTA Districts 6,7, and 8 which all made generous contributions that enable this contest year after year. This was year 15---making the Willamette Valley fiddle contest the oldest fiddle contest in Oregon other than the Oregon State Contest. Nancy Rohn again provided coffee, served up New Morning Bakery treats to contestants, sold t-shirts and donated a raffle fiddle . Jon Franke Violin Shop again was a contest sponsor and maintains our contest web site. Darla and Jesse Knudson were kind enough to come up fro Junction City and man ( and "woman" ) the registration desk. Ken Luse helped generally all around and his bass and enthusiasm were greatly appreciated. Scott Phillips came up and helped wrangle contestants as well as the contest Chair and the MC----he provided transportation for us and all contest stuff. Suzie Maresh and Leslie Darland were scorekeepers---making it fifteen years of service in this position for each of them. Newcomer Susan Sanderson helped Suzie and Leslie on the morning shift. As always, the contest would not be possible without the support---both financial and volunteer-wise from OOFTA, fiddlers, and friends. Jeanine Orme, Denice Carter, and Scott Sumner did a great job as judges and Erin McMullen gave her usual stellar performance as MC--in 105 degree heat! Thank you so much everyone for making this year another success. I am always thrilled to hear from fiddlers that this is their very favorite contest and also from long time fans that they come to the Fair every year just to see the fiddle contest. Hope to see everyone next year--plus some new faces! Starr Also, see http://www.fiddlecontest.violinsviolascellosbass.com/winners.html

2012 Willamette Valley Fiddle Contest Results Novice 1. Eleanor Doggett, Beaverton OR 2. Lucy Doggett, Beaverton OR 3. Nate Rice, Portland OR Pee Wee 1. Luke Allison, Bend OR 2. Lillian Cheng, Corvallis OR 3. Kelsey Smith, Portland OR 4. Maia Clemons, Portland OR 5. Aurora Bitans, Portland OR Junior-Junior 1. Randy Zhang, Portland OR 2. Lauren Allison, Bend OR 3. Tenaya Cooley, Eugene OR 4. Trevor Allison, Bend OR 5. Maya Greyanus, Corvallis OR Junior 1. Heather Kobilan, Washougal WA 2. Renee Zhang, Portland OR 3. Hannah Allison, Bend OR 4. Jessica Kobilan, Washougal WA Adult 1. Cynthia Hamm, Vancouver WA 2. Grace Kobilan, Washougal WA 3. Christy Tanner, Lebanon OR 4. Rita Stacy, Portland OR 5. Julie Smith, Portland OR Senior 1. Willie Carter, Lebanon OR 2. Jerry Parks, Lebanon OR 3. Randy Warner, Washer Valley NV 4. Donna Wynn, Springfield OR 5. Dave Emmenegger, Woodburn OR Championship 1. Andy Emert, Portland OR 2. Kian Dye, Portland OR 3. Eileen Walter, Portland OR 4. Bob Heinith, Portland OR Accompanist 1. Jeff Walter, Portland OR 2. Jeff Lincoln, Meridian ID 3. Frank Moore, Pendleton OR 4. Andy Emert, Portland OR 5. Ann Sumner, Kuna ID Judges: Denice Carter, Vancouver WA < Jeanine Orme, Beaverton, OR, Scott Sumner, Kuna ID

MC: Erin McMullen, Philomath OR Thanks to the Corvallis Gazzette -Times for the following article and pictures.

No strings attached

Hannah All ison, 15, tunes her f iddle with an iPhone while her brother, Trevor, 11, Hannah All ison, 15, tunes her f iddle with an iPhone while her brother, Trevor, 11,

prepares for his onprepares for his on--stage performance at the Wil lamette stage performance at the Wil lamette Valley Fiddle Contest at the Valley Fiddle Contest at the

Benton County Fair on Saturday. (Andy Cripe | Corvall is GazetteBenton County Fair on Saturday. (Andy Cripe | Corvall is Gazette--Times)Times)

• By JOCE DeWITT, Corvallis Gazette-Times

For the love of their music, and a chance at cash, young fiddlers beat the heat

While the heat may have been enough to deter some people from leaving their homes

on Saturday, it was only another obstacle to overcome for the young competitors in

the Willamette Valley Fiddle Contest.

In its 15th year, the event was held in the shade of large trees at the Oak Grove Stage

at the heart of the Benton County Fair.

Members of the audience routinely dabbed their necks with towels and wiped the

sweat from their foreheads as the Pee-Wee age division commenced their musical

sets.

Lilian Cheng, 7, of Corvallis, was one of the first fiddlers in the 8-and-under age

category. Though she has played classical violin for a year and the fiddle for only a

couple months, she said she wasn’t nervous to perform for the fair crowd.

“I like the double stops,” Cheng said, adding that she especially enjoys playing the

fiddle because she “gets to play fast.”

But what really goes through a child’s head when she is about to play a new

instrument in front of strangers?

“I’m thinking ‘I want to get first place,’” Cheng said.

The competition, coordinated by Starr McMullen, the senior champion fiddler for the

state of Oregon as well as an OSU economics professor, offers prize money for first

through fifth place.

“We have to raise close to $3,000,” McMullen said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth

it.”

The contest has categories of eight different competitive levels, from novice, for those

who have never competed, to senior, for ages 60 and up. There is also a

championship division, with a $300 first-place prize, and an accompanist category.

After Cheng came 4-year-old Cameron Cooley. Following a set of songs, including

“Down in the Valley” and “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” Cooley descended the stage

and, with a big smile, said he had fun.

“Other than the state championships, this is the longest-lasting fiddle contest in the

state,” McMullen said. “What I like about it is, we catch passers-by and that’s the way

we get the music out.”

Luke Allison, 6, of Bend, played his first fiddle competition at last year’s Benton

County Fair. Allison recently returned from the National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest in

Idaho.

He is one of seven children, all of which, along with his parents, constitute the Allison

Family Band, who perform together about once a week.

“I like the contests,” Luke said after he finished his three-song set with a one-tenth-

size fiddle.

Allison’s three older siblings and mother, Dawn, also performed Saturday.

The 2012 Willamette Valley Fiddle Contest had 14 sponsors, both individuals and

organizations. McMullen said the Benton County Fair provides a good venue and

sound for a successful event every year. “This is something we really enjoy doing,” she said.