Bryan McDowell is the first contestant in the history of the Walnut Valley Festival to win 3 championship titles in a single year. They include the National Flat Pick Champion, Walnut Valley Mandolin Champion and the Walnut Valley Old-Time Fiddle Champion.

Winfield, Kansas — A young 18-year old student and musician came to Winfield and the Walnut Valley Festival for the first time just a week ago. Bryan McDowell and his parents came all the way from Canton, NC. He had received encouragement to come to the Festival from one of his fellow band members, Brandon Davis of Independence, VA. Not only did Bryan enter one contest he entered three of the eight contests at the Festival. The first contest was on Friday, September 18, the Walnut Valley Mandolin Contest. Bryan was sitting down when the final two places were announced backstage on Stage 4. When second place was announced, McDowell put his hands to his face and bent down. He knew he had placed first in this contest. This was the first of three times his name would be announced as the first place winner. Bryan started playing the mandolin just seven years ago. As a matter of fact for the first six years he borrowed his sister’s mandolin. But a year ago she got married and moved away so in 2008 Bryan had to buy his own mandolin

Four hours later, Bryan was again backstage at Stage 4. He had made the cut to the final five in the Walnut Valley Old Time Fiddle Contest. After playing two more songs, the winners were announced and again the name Bryan McDowell came out on top. Another instrument was won by this young man. Bryan actually plays the fiddle in the current band he plays with, “Second Circle.”

Now fast forward to Saturday morning at the Walnut Valley Festival. The list of thirty-seven contestants in the National Flat Pick Guitar Championships includes that of Bryan McDowell from Canton, NC. Out of these contestants, could it be possible that Bryan would end up on top again? Odds perhaps seemed against that as some former champions were included in that list.

When the cut to the final five was made, there was Bryan McDowell again. Roy Curry who has placed many times in this contest and the oldest among the top five commented, “You just gotta slow these young guys down.” Two more songs were played and the name Bryan McDowell was announced as the winner in the prestigious National Flat Pick Guitar Contest at the Walnut Valley Festival. In sports, three-peats are often mentioned, but in the contests here at the Festival? There have been a few times when contestants have entered more than one contest at the Festival and have won two first places, but never has an individual won three of the contests. This was a Walnut Valley Festival first. Ironic as it may seem, second and third places in this contest were won by best friends of Bryan, Brandon Davis of Independence, VA (the person who urged Bryan to come and enter the contests) placed second, and Eric Hardin of Warrensville, NC placed third. Not only are they best of friends, they are members of the same band, “Second Circle.”

In an interview after this contest, it is noted that Bryan McDowell is really a humble young man. When accepting his last first place prize, Bryan acknowledged his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as the one who provided him the talent to accomplish what he has done. When asking his two closest friends, Brandon and Eric, what kind of person Bryan is, they concurred that Bryan is a true genuine humble person. The one thing these two commented on was the fact that in the National Flat Pick Guitar contest they won’t have to put up with Bryan next year since he won’t be eligible to compete again in the contests he won for five years. In this conversation with the three of them, it was noted that in the band, “Second Circle,” Bryan actually plays fiddle, Brandon plays guitar and Eric plays mandolin. Other members of their band include Melissa King, Chase Johner and Tracy Burchum. If you are ever in the area where this band is playing, check them out, they’re one of the few bands to have some of the top acoustic instrument players in the United States.

Has it sunk in to Bryan McDowell that he has set a record here at the Walnut Valley Festival? It is doubtful, but it will in the near future. Bryan will probably remain the humble young man that he is! The Festival sends “Best Wishes” to a fine young man!

– From Walnut Valley Festival