L-R Aaron Thornton(3rd), Joe Collins(1st), and Rob Pearcy(2nd)

After three 3rd place finishes in the National Mountain Dulcimer Contest at the Walnut Valley Festival, Joe Collins of Shelby, NC finally took the first place trophy. He also won $150 and a 4FHKK Custom Mountain Dulcimer by the Dulcimer Shoppe/McSpadden of Mountain View, AR. Joe is a veteran of this contest having placed in ‘04, ‘05 and 2006. Joe has been playing the mountain dulcimer for 29 years. He was first introduced the dulcimer by a high school friend, Ellen Fishbwine. She had one and told Joe, she wanted him to teach her to play the instrument. Joe said, ” I had no idea what it was, so she sent it home with me where I learned to play it and fell in love with it.” His own first Mt. Dulcimer was a Father’s Day present from his family.

A longtime festival fan from Smyrna, TN took second place this year. For fourteen years, Rob Pearcy has been coming to the Festival here in Winfield. Rob is a fixture at many of the contests not only entering this competition but also the mandolin and flat-pick guitar contests. He also helps out fellow contestants in by playing back-up. He has been playing the mountain dulcimer for the past 27 years and says “stubbornness” caused him to enter the contest again. Rob is a multi talented individual and also plays the guitar, mandolin, Dobro, old time banjo, harmonica and the bass. Coming to Winfield and the Festival is the high point of the year. Rob adds, “The rest of the year seems irrelevant.” The second place trophy, $125 and a 6FHCRB Mountain Dulcimer by the Dulcimer Shoppe/McSpadden of Mountain View, AR is what Rob takes back to Smyrna, TN.

Aaron Thornton of Carrier, MS was the third place winner in this contest. Aaron has entered the contest three times and this time he made the cut to the final five and eventually to third place. He wanted to enter this contest because it is a “National” contest and placing in this would be important. His uncle, Bill Burks who builds mountain dulcimers gave him his first instrument nine years ago. Thornton loves playing music and jamming here at the festival. This is his third time to come to Winfield. Thornton has a hobby of collecting old stringed musical instruments and old music records. . The third place trophy, $1o0 and a 4FGCS Mountain Dulcimer by The Dulcimer Shoppe/McSpadden of Mountain View, AR, was the result of his efforts.

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L-R Roy Curry (3rd), Dillon Hodges (1st) and Carl Miner(3rd)

Dillon Hodges of Florence, AL, this years first place winner, had entered this contest four times but had never placed in the top five. A 17-year old high school senior, Dillon, has been playing the guitar for the past six years and also plays the mandolin. He got his first guitar from his uncle because he wanted to learn to play an instrument. He has a CD, “Stormy Weather,” produced by Nashville flat picker, Tim May. It was fun watching Dillon choose his first place guitar. You see, Dillon plays left-handed and all the prize guitars were for right-handed players. Trying to finger backwards and to strum up instead of down was a feat that Dillon did quite well. For his efforts Dillon won $2,000, the 1st place trophy and he choose the Collings Winfield Model Mahogany/Adirondack Spruce Guitar by Collings Guitars Inc. of Austin, TX.

Second place went to an individual who also placed second in 1998 and first in 1999. This was the sixth time Carl Miner of Austin, TX has entered this contest. He also enters the mandolin, and finger style guitar contests here at the Festival. He’s been playing the guitar for the past 17 years. His first guitar was given to him by his step-dad who also taught him the basics. His efforts netted him a Martin D-18 Golden Era Guitar by C.F. Martin and Company/the Martin Guitar Company of Nazareth, PA and also the 2nd place trophy.

A former champion, Roy Curry of Chattanooga, TN, placed third in this competition. Roy was the champion in 1980 and 1991 and placed second in 1999 and third in 2004. He has entered this contest ten times and says he has played the guitar “40 long years.” Roy teaches some and also plays the banjo. Will he be back, “Yep,” he says. He also enjoys playing in the band called “Lone Mountain Band (www.lonemountainband.net) which he has done for the last 6 or 7 years. The 3rd place trophy and a Taylor GS Guitar by Taylor Guitars of El Cajon, CA were the results of his efforts.

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L-R James Schlender (3rd) Brook Wallace (1st) and Ellie Goodman (2nd)

Brook Wallace of Burleson, TX, an 18-year old student took first place. Brook is a college student majoring in music at Tarrant County College and she plays in the TCC Jazz Band. This was her second trip to Winfield. She says she had to come back because she had the desire to place first in this contest. She has been playing the fiddle most of her life, taking up the instrument when she was only 7-years old. Brook also plays the guitar, mandolin and piano. Wallace’s parents gave her the first fiddle she says, “Because I kept after them to get me one.” She also plays in her family’s band, The Wallace Family Band. Brook takes back to TX the 1st place trophy, $250 and a Simon Nandor Violin provided by Keller Strings of Topeka, KS.

Ellie Goodman of Edmond, OK took home the second place trophy and a Euorpean Violin provided by Keller Strings of Topeka, KS. This is the first time she has been to Winfield and the Festival and she considers it “a wonderful and inspiring experience.” She has been playing the fiddle for around seven years and also plays mandolin. Ellie says she actually became interested in the fiddle because of the music she was exposed to as a child… music by Ricky Skaggs and Bill Monroe. She was 10 when she got her first fiddle. Her parents bought it from a local fiddle shop. “I’ll be back,” she says, because it’s a great experience and is wonderful for players like me who want to expose themselves to a wide range of music styles.”

A 13-year old student, James Schlender of Bozeman, MT captured 3nd place in this year’s contest. This was James’ second time entering the Winfield contest. Last year he finished 2nd. James said, “I came to have fun and compete against the big guys.” He has been playing the fiddle for only four and one-half years and also plays a little mandolin and guitar. James got his first fiddle from his teacher’s wife’s cousin and he now plays the one that he won last year. He takes back to MT the 3rd Place Trophy and $250.

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L-R Tim Thompson(2nd), Don Alder(1st), and Dan Bliss (3rd)

Don Alder of Vancouver, BC, Canada placed first in this prestigious contest. Alder is a Technical Production Manager for the Rick Hansen Foundation. This is his fifth time attending the Festival. He is also a songwriter and has placed three years in a row in the instrumental portion of the Songwriter’s Showcase here at the Festival. At the age of 13 he was given an electric guitar when he got sick and had to miss school for 6 months. In addition to the guitar he also plays the harp guitar. Don chose the Larrivee LV-10 Guitar by Jean Larrivee Guitars USA Inc of Oxnard, CA. He also takes back to Vancouver, BC the 1st Place Trophy and $3,000.

Second place went to Tim Thompson of Hendersonville, TN. Tim came to Winfield last year for the first time and placed in the top five in this competition. He is a full-time musician in Nashville doing session work and some live shows. In addition to the guitar Tim plays mandolin. He says he has been playing the guitar since he was 12 years old and got his first guitar, an old Sears Airline Guitar with the amp built into the case, from his older brother Denny. When asked if he will come back to Winfield and the Festival? “Of course,” he says “I have to try for first place in this contest.” Tim won the 2nd place trophy and a Triggs Flattop Guitar by Jim & Ryan Triggs of Lawrence, KS.

Dan Bliss, a 48-year old professional musician from Merriam, KS placed third in this competition. Bliss has entered this contest three times and in 2005 he placed second. He plays a lot in the greater Kansas City area, the upper mid-west and does some teaching. When asked about his early playing days he says he has been playing for 37 years and began playing on his older brother’s Epiphone guitar. About the Festival, Dan says, “I’m starting to feel at home here.” For his talents he won the 2nd place trophy and a Gallagher GA-70 Cut-a-way Guitar by J.W. Gallagher & son of Wartrace, TN.

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L-R Sam Wachtler (2nd), Stephen Humphries (1st), Tina Gugeler (3rd)

Stephen Humphries of Chapin, SC took first place in the National Hammer Dulcimer competition. He has placed third the last two years. At the urging of Mark Wade, his former instructor, Stephen decided to head back to Winfield and try for a third time. The third time was the charm for this young man. The first place trophy, $100 and a Custom Engraved Master Works Russell Cook Edition 16/16c Hammer Dulcimer by Master Works of Bennington, OK were taken back to South Carolina.

Stephen is a 22-year old college senior at Presbyterian College who has been playing the hammer dulcimer for about seven and one-half years. He also plays drums and percussion. His first hammer dulcimer was given to him by his parents after they had rented one for him to learn on.

Sam Wachtler of Colorado Springs, CO took second place in the competition. This was his second trip to the Festival. He came back because he wanted to see some friends who had been to the Festival in 2005 when he was last here and he wanted to enter the competition. Sam has played the hammer dulcimer for the past six years and also plays the mandolin, guitar and fiddle. Wachtler credits his mother for becoming interested in the hammer dulcimer because she liked the sound of the instrument. Sam is a 15-year old home schooled student who loves to play volleyball, music and airsoft. He wins the 2nd place trophy, $75 in cash and a Huddleson UL400C 10/15/15 Fully Chromatic Hammer Dulcimer by Mike Huddleson Stringed Instruments of Wichita, KS.

Tina Gugeler of Erie, CO is no stranger to the Festival and this competition. Tina has been coming to Winfield for 14 years and this is the 6th time she has entered the hammer dulcimer competition. She is also a past winner having placed 3rd in 1998, 2nd in 1999 and 1st in 2000. Tina has played the hammer dulcimer for the past 21 years and loves to jam at the “Carp Camp” while at the Festival. Gugeler says she plays the guitar, penny whistle and the piano, but not in public. For her third place finish Tina has won $50 in cash, the 2nd place trophy and a Cloud Nine model 17/16/8 Hammer Dulcimer by Cloud Nine musical Instruments of Ostrander, OH.

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