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 National Flat Pick Guitar champions were crowned here at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS on the afternoon of September 19, 2009. In this contest there were 37 contestants from 19 states and from Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. When the cut to five was made the states of two from North Carolina, and one each from Utah, Virginia, and Tennessee.

First place was won by Bryan McDowell of Canton, NC.

There were thirteen contestants who played in the 2009 Walnut Valley Festival National Bluegrass Banjo competition. In addition those from the United States, there were two contestants from outside the US; one was from the United Kingdom and one was from Australia.

When the cut to five was made, numbers were drawn again to see who would play first….

The Walnut Valley Old Time Fiddle contest was completed on Friday, September 18th here at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS.

There were 22 participants in this contest and they came from 15 different states as well as the United Kingdom. The cut to the final five found contestants from Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, and two from Oklahoma.

The Walnut Valley Mandolin Champions were just crowned here at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS. There were 21 who played in this contest. Those 21 represented 18 different states as well as Japan and UK.

The final five were from Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and the United Kingdom. …