MOUNT VERNON – Dan Emmett, author of “Dixie,” was well-known for his skill in playing both fiddle and banjo. It is in honor of this local musical icon’s legacy that the Dan Emmett Music & Arts Festival is dedicated. And what better way to honor one of our most famous historical figures than by hosting the annual Old-Time Fiddle Contest? If that weren’t enough, the Banjo and Flat-Pick Guitar Contests will return once again this year as a part of the Dan Emmett Music & Arts Festival. All contests will be held on Saturday, August 12th. The Old-Time Fiddle Contest will be located on the First-Knox Main Stage on the Public Square, and the Banjo and Flat-Pick Guitar Contests will be located on the First-Knox South Stage on the South Main and Gambier Streets intersection.
The Fiddle Contest will begin at 11:00 am with 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place prizes for categories: (1) Ages 11 and under, (2) Ages 12-19, (3) Open Class, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd for category (4) Ages 55 and older. First place for the Ages 55 and Older category has been designated the Honorary John Baltzell Award. The Banjo and Flat-Pick Guitar Contests will begin at 8:00 a.m. with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes for each of the two categories for Banjo contestants: (1) Age 17 and under, (2) Age 18 and older. Flat-Pick Guitar contestants will compete in three categories: (1) Age 12 and under, (2) Age 13-19, (3) Age 20 and older.
All contests are open to non-professional, contest-ready players of all ages to dazzle the judges with their skill and showmanship. In the Old-Time Fiddle Contest contestants are allowed four to six minutes of play. In the Banjo Contest each contestant is require to play 2 tunes of their choice with a total of 5 minutes of on stage play. In the Flat-Picking Guitar Contest each contestant must play one tune of their choice with a maximum time limit of 4 minutes. Registration for all three contests will remain open until the schedule is full. Contest registration forms can be found on the Festival website, www.DanEmmett Festival.org, or may be picked up at Harvest@TheWoodward, located at 105 South Main Street in downtown Mount Vernon. For additional assistance, please call (740) 392-3378.
The 2017 Dan Emmett Music & Arts Festival continues through Sunday in Downtown Mount Vernon with various activities each day. This year’s Festival is made possible through the contributions of Ariel Corporation and First-Knox National Bank. For additional information, contact the Festival at (740) 392-FEST (3378) or email at director@DanEmmettFestival.org.
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