If you have the guts, the catgut, that is, here's your chance at glory.
The Huron Township Applefest invites all fiddlers to participate in the 22nd annual Michigan State Championship Old-Time Fiddlers Contest in New Boston at the start of this year's Applefest on Oct. 6.
The contest will be held at 10 a.m. in the parking lot of the Individual Financial Planning building, 37283 Huron River Drive, New Boston. Contestants will register at 9 a.m., and draw for positions at 9:30.
The contest is expected to be over before the Applefest parade begins at 1 p.m., but contestants should be aware that Huron River Drive and Waltz Road will be closed for the duration of the parade.
Judges for this year's contest will be:
•Glen Morningstar, a fiddler with the Olde Michigan Ruffwater Stringband. Morningstar is a nationally acclaimed old-time dance instructor and author of "Great Contras and Squares from the Great Lakes State" and "Dance the Winter Away."
•Judy DeGroote, fiddler and author of "Come Dance With Me - Original Fiddle Compositions and Favorite Tunes of Les Raber."
•Brad Battey, fiddler with Dr. Grangelove, The Sharon Hollow String Band, Aunt Lu and the Oakland County All Stars, and The Olde Michigan Ruffwater Stringband. Battey is co-music director for Cumberland Dance Week, board member for Michigan Dance Heritage and president of the Ann Arbor Council for Traditional Music and Dance.
There is a non-refundable $10 entry fee. Contestants will be required to play a waltz, a schottische, a jig and a reel in under six minutes, all in a manner suitable for Michigan old-time dancing. Contestants will be judged on timing, tempo, intonation, expression and repertoire.
The first-place winner will receive the state champion plaque and $300. The prize for second place is a plaque and $200, while the third-place winner gets a plaque and $100
Fourth- through sixth-place winners each will get a medal. All participants will receive their choice of a "Come Dance With Me" tune book or a Michigan Jamboree tune book for entering.
At this time, there is only one contest, with no separation of age groups. But don't let that stop you. Last year'stop four finishers were ages 10, 18, 12 and 50, respectively. The focus of the contest is on fiddlers who play well for dancing rather than on who can play the fastest with the most variations. Knowing some old-time Michigan fiddletunes also is a major component of this contest.Complete rules, definitions, judging categories and scoring guide can be found at http://consortium.caucus.com/pdfs/ MI_fiddle_contest_2007.pdf
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