70th Seagrove Fiddlers Convention is Saturday

SEAGROVE – The 70th Annual Seagrove Fiddlers' Convention will be held Saturday, March 15, at Seagrove Elementary School beginning at 6 p.m. 

Registration for the Randolph County talent show starts at 5 p.m. and runs until 6:45 p.m. This year, $2,500, an increase in cash prizes, plus ribbons will be awarded to winners with youth entries mirroring adult categories. 

A unique category to this competition is harmony blend singing, recognizing when two or more vocalists harmonize. 

A new award this year will be the Greg Corbett Memorial Youth Banjo Award presented to the most outstanding youth banjoist by the Corbett family. Greg, a native of Troy, was a professional banjoist who got his start as a child playing on the stage for the first time at the Seagrove Fiddlers’ Convention. He passed away unexpectedly in 2014 at age 41.

The 7th Annual Alan Perdue Memorial Award will once again be presented to someone who has made significant contributions to the promotion of bluegrass music in the region. 

There will also be a cake auction during intermission. Maxton Byrd and his committee are working hard to make this the biggest and best event yet!

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 6-12. Cash only. Proceeds will benefit the Southwestern Randolph Choral Booster Club, which will be serving concessions during the event. Seagrove Elementary is located at 528 Old Plank Road, Seagrove.

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STAR – The 98th Annual Star Fiddlers’ Convention is now history. The long-running acoustic talent contest ran over four hours and attracted more than 50 entries which included 11 bands from across the state. Contestants ranged from children to senior citizens vying for $2,500 in cash prizes.

“I think it is the biggest event we have had since we came back from COVID,” Mary Callicutt of the Halcyon Women’s Club who sponsors the annual event said. “There were more participants and close to 500 people in attendance. There was a lot of competition! We were well pleased!”

Adult winners for this year’s event were:

Band: 1. Crucial County, 2. Black Ankle Boys, 3. Railroad Street Revival.

Fiddle: 1. Hollace Oakes (14 years old), 2. Charlie Tolbert, 3. Alec McCallister.

Banjo: 1. Danny Bowers, 2. Ettore Buzzini, 3. Tom Hyatt.

Guitar: 1. Max Jacobson, 2. CH Lineberry, 3. Carl Patterson.

Mandolin: 1. Alexander Meredith, 2. Dwayne Runyon, 3. Andrew Brown.

Bass: 1. John Fogleman, 2. Daniel Schronce, 3. Jimmy Damron.

Dobro: 1. Tab Kearn, 2. Sandy Hatley.

Miscellaneous: 1. Dody Nolan (accordian), 2. Kenny Welch (harmonica).

Vocal: 1. Natalie Ingram, 2. Morgan Brown, 3. Kyna Gunter.

Dance (16-30): 1. Mason Winfree.

Dance (31-49): 1. Taylor Lingren, 2. Brad Davis, 3. Melissa Campbell.

Dance (50 and over): 1. Cheryl Skeen, 2. Nina Williams, 3. Randall Cothran.

Youth winners (15 years of age and under):

Fiddle: 1. Alexander Ferranti (12 years old), 2. Benjamin Ferranti (10).

Banjo: 1. Cameron Edenfield (15), 2. David McGuirt (14).

Guitar: 1. Truett Wagner (13), 2. Elliot King (13).

Mandolin: 1. Orson Cornett (13), 2. Levi Harper (12), 3. Evan King (8).

Bass: 1. Alexander Hayes (11).

Dobro: 1. JD Hussey (15).

Vocals: 1. Bailey Ingram (7), 2. Chelsea Edenfield (13), 3. Courtney Edenfield (10).

Dance: 1. Dannie Leih Stegall (11), 2. Wyatt Stegall (8).

Best Up and Coming Talent: Orson Cornett (13).

The competition, held at Star Elementary School, included the presentation of the newly renamed (in 2023) Jim & Mary Callicutt Award, longtime promoters of the event and first recipients of the award in their honor. Previously called the CV Richardson Memorial Award, the fiddlers’ convention was the brainchild of Mr. Richardson of Star High School’s PTA in 1926. 

The award is presented annually to someone who is dedicated to working and promoting the Star Fiddlers’ Convention. This year’s recipient went local musician and event supporter CH Lineberry, who has performed at the convention for many years. The last 20, he has competed with his band, Passin’ Thru. Star is his hometown.