Seagrove Fiddlers’ Convention begins new era with a bang

ASHEBORO — Seagrove Fiddlers’ Convention was the place to be on Saturday, March 21, for great musical entertainment. Celebrating its 71st year, the local acoustic talent contest relocated from the elementary school to Southwestern Randolph High School to afford more space for the ever-expanding annual event.

Hundreds of attendees poured into the gymnasium to hear more than six hours of bluegrass music performed by 13 bands, two dozen adult individuals and almost a dozen youth individuals. 

All were vying for more than $2,500 in cash prizes, ribbons, medallions and musical merchandise provided by sponsors within the Bluegrass community. Winners received such industry perks as strings, T-shirts, thumb drives, signed CDs, and caps, plus a music camp scholarship. 

Competitors ranged in ages from 6 to 85 years old.

Special awards were presented in memory of individuals who impacted the Seagrove Fiddlers’ Convention. 

In January, Maxton Byrd and Pammy Lassiter, two integral members of the convention committee, passed away. Byrd was remembered with a new award presented in his memory. The first recipient was Mark Waisner, an employee of the school and a valuable member of the convention committee. 

The Pammy Lassiter Memorial Foundation sponsored the adult dobro prizes to continue her legacy of promoting music.

Other annual memorial awards were presented, including the Alan Perdue Memorial Award, given to Grayson and Lettie Auman for their over 50 years 

of service with the Seagrove Fiddlers’ Convention. The award was presented by Alan’s family in memory of Perdue who competed regularly at the convention in his youth. As an adult, he played with numerous professional bands, including Junior Sisk, IIIrd Tyme Out and Mountain Heart. 

The Greg Corbett Memorial Youth Banjo Award, which included a plaque and $100, was presented by Greg’s children, Calvin and Kensy. The recipient was Silas Walls, young banjoist with the 4 Walls family band. Seagrove was the first fiddlers’ convention that Corbett competed in as a child. He went on to play professionally with the Country Gentlemen. Both of these fine musicians passed away far too soon while in their 40s.

The contest began with a prayer by John Gunter, a local pastor/convention committee member, and the singing of the national anthem by the Southwestern Randolph Chorus, members of which also manned the convention’s concession stand.

The night featured several A-listers within the bluegrass community:

■ Emcees for the evening were Crystal Richardson, banjoist with Sweet Potato Pie, and Vivian Pennington Hopkins, former president of the NC Bluegrass Association. 

■ Fiddler featured in the dance competition was Nathan Aldridge of the Dan Tyminski Band. 

■ Recording artists Kenny & Amanda Smith were present to support their daughter, Annabelle, who competed in her first vocal competition. Her dad of kennysmithguitar.com backed her as she belted out “Getaway” — an original song written by Katelyn Ingardia of the SC-based band, Backline. 

■ Dobroist David Nance, formerly with Jimmy Martin, was also present, as well as Kevin Richardson, guitarist with Daniel Grindstaff & the Uptown Troubadours, and Joel Maness, original mandolinist with Bass Mountain Boys.

Greg Luck, former member of JD Crowe & the New South, IIIrd Tyme Out, Grasstowne and others, was there to enjoy the music and fellowship with wife, Courtney, and family. They were later joined by Trent Callicutt, Matt & Melissa Hinson Love and others for one of many powerhouse jams around the campus. Trent has played banjo with Kenny & Amanda Smith and Dailey for & Vincent. Matt performed with Darin & Brooke Aldridge and Melissa was bassist with her sibling group, The Hinson Girls. 

The audience, talent and staff all seemed to embrace and appreciate the amenities of the new venue with ample restrooms, dedicated concessions area, and much-improved spaces for competing bands to rehearse. 

The spacious cafeteria area was continuously in use for multiple jams, including collaborative ones between members of competing bands, a testament to the relationships in the bluegrass community and good sportsmanship that were on full display the entire night. Additional jams abounded throughout the seemingly endless hallways, as well as in many areas outdoors in the warm spring weather.

One attendee remarked that the event captured the flavor of fiddlers’ conventions of past decades with awards presentations finishing after midnight!

Attendees and sponsors of the event included promoters Karen Miller of Denton FarmPark & the Malpass Brothers’ Festival, Jeff Branch of the Big Lick Bluegrass Festival, and Milton Harkey of Bluegrass First Class. Rising songstress Olivia Jo was also in the audience. Professional audio was provided by Geoffrey Keyes. 

Honored guests included Bobby Franklin, longtime bluegrass radio deejay, festival emcee and first recipient of the Alan Perdue Award.

As a nonprofit organization, the Seagrove Fiddlers’ Convention helps support various entities of SWRHS. Home baked cakes and pies were auctioned during intermission. More than $500 was raised for the choral program and a 50/50 raffle benefited the FFA program.

Competition was stiff and several of the categories resulted in ties. Here’s a list of winners for the 2026 Seagrove Fiddlers’ Convention.

YOUTH

Band: 1. 4 Walls.

Fiddle: 1. Charis Roth, 2. Benjamin Ferranti, 3. Lydia Walls.

Banjo: 1. Eliana Cornett, 2. Silas Walls.

Mandolin: 1. Wyatt Love, 2. Sara Cornett, 3. Sara Walls.

Guitar: 1. Elliot King, 2. Corban Walls.

Vocal: 1. Chelsea Edenfield, 2. Annabelle Smith, 3. Elliot King.

Harmony Blend: 1. Chelsea & Courtney Edenfield, 2. 4 Walls.

ADULT

Band: 1. Granite City Grass, 2. Franklinville Express, 3. No Smoking.

Fiddle: 1. Alec McCallister, 2. Henry Noel, 3. Adam Burrows.

Banjo: 1. Ronnie Hatley, 2. Andy Hunt, 3. (tie) Joe Grooms and Benny Blackwelder.

Mandolin: 1. Alexander Meredith, 2. Shawn McKee, 3. Randy Willard.

Guitar: 1. Isaiah Goforth, 2. Tommy Chandler, 3. (tie) John Michael Hill & Adam Truell.

Bass: 1. Melissa Love, 2. Daniel Perry, 3. John Fogleman.

Dobro: 1. Hayes Smith, 2. (tie) John Murdock and Daniel Smith, 3. Sandy Hatley.

Vocal: 1. Kyna Gunter, 2. Stacey Stuart, 3. Natalie Ingram.

Harmony Blend: 1. Doug & Stacey Stuart, 2. No Smoking, 3. (tie)Franklinville Express and River Ridge Bluegrass Band.

Miscellaneous: 1. Gene Smith (harmonica), 2. Danny Casstevens (dulcimer), 3. (tie)  Kenny Welch (harmonica) and Dennis Cash (autoharp).

Dance: 1. Andy Hunt

Plans are already under way for the 72nd Annual Seagrove Fiddlers’ Convention to be held the third Saturday in March 2027, returning to its new venue, Southwestern Randolph High School.