Sep 20
spotlight: Winfield National Mandolin Competition Winners
L-R Dominick Leslie (2nd), Solly Burton (1st), and Brian Roe (3rd)First place in the Walnut Valley Mandolin competition was awarded to 16-year old Solly Burton of Sullivan, IN. Solly is a home schooled high school junior who has been playing the mandolin for seven years. This was his first time to the Festival and the contest.
In addition to the mandolin, Burton plays the guitar and ukulele. Solly’s mother bought him his first mandolin for $50 at a yard sale and when he decided it was the instrument for him, he began saving his money from selling eggs and 4-H pigs to buy a brand new Weber mandolin a year later. Along with the 1st place trophy Burton also takes home $250 and a Weber Custom Elite “F” Style Mandolin by Weber Mandolins of Manhattan, MT.
Second place went to 17 year old high school senior, Dominick Leslie of Evergreen, CO. He has also been playing the mandolin for seven years and this was the fourth time he has entered the competition. When asked how he got his first mandolin, Dominick said, “My dad got a mandolin for Christmas when I was 10 and I started playing much more than him.” One of his favorite things to do at the Festival is “pickin and jammin.” He takes back to Colorado the 2nd place trophy and has chosen a Collings MF Custom Mandolin by Collings Guitars of Austin, TX.
Brian Roe of Hasty/Loveland, Colorado placed 3rd in this contest. At just 18-years old, Roe classifies himself as a student/musician. He is home schooled by his parents who are “on the road” much of the year as part of the “Roe Family Band.” This past year they’ve done some 250 shows all across the country. Brian is a multi-talented young musician who also plays guitar, banjo, fiddle, bass, mountain dulcimer, and tenor banjo. He has been playing the mandolin for just 6 short years. Brian classifies coming to Winfield as “his favorite time of year.” Brian chose the BRWFT-MS Mandolin by BRW Musical Instruments of Ostrander, OH and takes home the 3rd Place Trophy.
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