Published: October 24, 2009 11:49 pm      

A bit of mountain music for a good cause

CUMBERLAND — No souls were bet, or fiddles of gold won, but people of all ages came out for the 16th Annual Fiddle Championship to compete in fiddle, banjo and mandolin.

The competition was founded by Wayne White in 1992 and, when he passed away in 1998, his wife Jean took over.

“Wayne had been to different areas and seen these contests here and he thought it’d be nice for Cumberland to have one,” White said. “So he started it and I kept it going because one, it’s a good fundraiser for the Lions Club and I also keep it going in his memory.”

Jean, coordinator of the competition and Cumberland Lions Club member, said there are multiple categories for each instrument; senior, adult and youth fiddle, adult and youth banjo and mandolin, which is open to all ages.

Ken White of Harmon, W. Va., was one of the 18 competitors at this year’s championship. He competed in all three categories and knows what it’s like to be crowned the champion in the fiddle and banjo categories, though he has yet to take the first-place trophy in the mandolin.

“I’ve been competing for all my life, so about 60 years or so,” he said. “I’ve competed in contests all around the country and this one here is a lot more laid back than others. I think me, and some of the other old-timers, come here more to entertain rather than the for the awards.”

White said he would rather jam out with other people, but he likes competitions because, like any sport, the contestants always come wanting to perform at their best.

And 11-year-old Hanna Livingston of Frostburg came to the championship ready to perform her best.

Livingston walked away champion of the youth fiddle category, earning her a trophy and $50 cash prize. She also competed in the mandolin category.

“I’ve played the fiddle a little less than two years and the mandolin for about four months,” she said. “I was playing the violin in school, though, so it wasn’t that hard of a change for me.”

Livingston also plays trumpet, french horn and piano.

“I like competing, it’s a lot of fun. But I also just like playing and jamming with other people,” Livingston said. “Most of the time I don’t really get nervous, I just practice a lot and have to get together with the accompanyist before the competition.”

She said playing music is something she would definitely encourage other young people to try — though recommends starting with the violin and using school instruments before moving on to purchase their own.

“It’s just a lot of fun but you have to practice a lot,” she said.

This year’s winner for the senior fiddle category was Joe Fadley; Livingston for youth fiddle; Greg Stump in adult banjo and Donald Kessler in the mandolin. No one entered in the youth banjo or adult fiddle championship.

For more information, contact Jean White at (301) 724-7976 or e-mail her at lionjeanwhite@yahoo.com.

Contact Tess Hill at thill@times-news.com.