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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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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L-R Jason Ericsson (2nd), Mike Sumner (1st), Brett Martin (3rd)

Mike Sumner, a thirty-eight year old IT Systems Manager from Interlochen, MI took first place in the National Bluegrass Banjo Contest. This was Mike’s third time to enter the contest having placed second in 2000 and first in 2001. Mike said, “I set a goal of returning and winning this contest for a second time.” His dad, who also plays, gave him a starter banjo when he was 8-years old and he was hooked on the instrument. Sumner said, “It’s kind of neat to play music with your father.”

Mike recently recorded his first CD “Winds of Winfield.” Assisting him on this CD are a few well known artists like Cody Kilby on guitar, Andy Leftwich on mandolin and fiddle, Bryn Davies on bass, and Randy Kohrs on dobro. Sumner played the title cut in the finals to secure a first place finish in the contest. For his efforts he chose an Ome Megatone Bluegrass Banjo by Ome Banjos of Boulder, CO.

Placing second in this competition was a thirty-six year old welder from Natrona Heights, PA. Jason Ericsson came for the first time in 2002 and made the cut to the top five that year. He returned this year and not only did he make the cut to the top five, he took home the 2nd place trophy and a Deering Calico Banjo by Deering Banjo Company of Spring Valley, CA. Jason says he has been playing the banjo for 28 years and comes to the Festival to enter the competition and to “hang out with all the great Parkin Lot Pickers.”

Brett Martin of Auburn, AL placed in the top five in this contest last year. This year he won the 3rd place trophy and a Deering Black Diamond Banjo by the Deering Banjo Company of Spring Valley, CA. He has been playing the banjo for the past 35 years and he also got his first banjo from his dad. Brett plays in a band entitled “Blue 32″ a bluegrass band out of Auburn, AL.

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Dillon Hodges 2007 National Flatpicking Champion

The 36th annual Walnut Valley Festival (Winfield, KS ) held September 13-16 has announced the winners from there highly acclaimed and revered instrumental contests. Congratulations to all of this years winners.

The dates for next year’s 37th Annual Walnut Valley Festival are September 17-21, 2008!

For more information about the festival go on line at www.wvfest.com or call the office at 620-221-3250. Tickets for the 2008 festival will go on sale in time for Christmas.

International Autoharp

1st Place - George Haig of Durifemline Fife Scotland
2nd Place - Tina Louise Barr of Modesto, CA
3rd Place - Craig Harrel of Houston, TX

International Fingerstyle Guitar

1st Place - Don Alder of Vancouver, BC Canada
2nd Place - Tim Thompson of Hendersonville, TN
3rd Place - Dan Bliss of Merriam, KS

National Mountain Dulcimer

1st Place - Joe Collins of Shelby, NC
2nd Place - Rob Pearcy of Smyrna, TN
3rd Place - Aaron Thornton of Carriere, MS

Walnut Valley Mandolin

1st Place - Solly Burton of Sullivan, IN
2nd Place - Dominick Leslie of Evergreen, CO
3rd Place - Brian Roe of Hasty, CO

Walnut Valley Old Time Fiddle

1st Place - Brook Wallace of Burleson, TX
2nd Place - Ellie Goodman of Edmond, OK
3rd Place - James Schlender of Bozeman, MT

National Flatpick Guitar

1st Place - Dillon Hodges of Florence AL
2nd Place - Carl Miner of Austin, TX
3rd Place - Roy Curry of Hixson, TN

National Hammer Dulcimer

1st Place - Stephen Humphries of Chapin, SC
2nd Place - Sam Wachtler of Colorado Springs, CO
3rd Place - Tina Gugeler of Erie, CO

National Bluegrass Banjo

1st Place - Mike Sumner of Interlochen, MI
2nd Place - Jason Ericsson of Natrona Heights, PA
3rd Place - Bret Martin of Auborn AL

Campsite Decorating Contest 2007

1st Place - Celtic Casbah
2nd Place - DoYaGotta Reservation
3rd Place - Dome Away From Home

Craft Contest Results

1st Place - Marc Kornbluh - Blown Glass
2nd Place - Roxy Callison - Cards
3rd Place - Greg & Mindy Rhoads - Pottery Pantry - Julie St. Peter - Pasta

Honorable Mention: Teresa Arnold, Shannon Cornfield, Dana Leake, Marc Meng, Rick Sampson, Jon Spaulding, Jack & Jason Stoddart

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