The 45th Annual Washington State Fiddlers' Contest
May 14, 15, & 16, 2010
February 2010 Report
The 45th Annual Washington State Fiddlers’ Contest will be held May 14-15-16, 2010 at the Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee. Yes, you read that right…at the Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee!!!
The decision to leave Eastmont Junior High was not an easy one. The staff and facility has served the contest fantastically over the past several years. When we first brought the contest to Wenatchee it was held during the big Apple Blossom Festival. The only problem was we could not draw an audience. Now that we are on our own weekend we need to have our contest directly in the heart of the arts community and at a venue people go to for a great show. If you have a computer check out the Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee website, www.pacwen.org to see the amazing venue we are moving to.
With the location change comes some other exciting advances as well. On Friday afternoon Senior and Senior/Senior divisions will start at 1pm. Friday evening we are having the first annual Washington State Fiddlers Contest Show featuring past champions, judges and other variety acts.
Tyler Hagood has agreed to run what we are calling the “WOTFA Heritage Experience”. This will be held on Saturday in the Fuji Rooms at the Wenatchee Convention Center, which is attached to the Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee. We are looking into having fiddler showcases, workshops and historical presentations open to the public to help bring a greater understanding about the WOTFA, and some of the great fiddlers from Washington.
Another amazing advantage is for those who are staying at hotels. We have 40 rooms blocked at the Coast Wenatchee Center Hotel. The hotel is a sky-bridge walk from the Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee, and has the popular Wenatchee Roaster and Ale House on the top floor. Rooms are $84 single/double, $94 triple and $104 quad. Please go to www.coasthotels.com or call 1-800-663-1144 for reservations (you must tell them you are with the fiddlers contest to get these rates). There are two other conventions happening this weekend and additional rooms are available, but will be going fast so please plan early and make your reservations!
Now for the bad news: due to city ordinances there is no overnight RV parking at the Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee. We are looking into options and will let you know soon.
Feedback from last year revealed contestants wanted to eliminate the time limit. This change will be reflected in the contest rules this year.
Two of our three judges have quite the distance to travel, and we are looking for help to cover their traveling expense. 2009 National Grand Champion Kimber Ludiker is coming from Boston, and Junior Daugherty is coming from Colorado. If anyone has frequent flier miles they would like to donate, or even contribute financially to the ticket fund, please let me know! We are also thrilled to have Mabel Vogt from Potlatch, Idaho as your third judge.
We have already received our first trophy sponsorship! District 16 has graciously sponsored the Senior Division. My deep thanks to Chair Noel Lareau, and the members of District 16 for supporting the contest!
There will be more announcements as we get closer to the contest, so please keep an eye on the wotfa website: www.wotfa.org or the Washington State Fiddlers’ Contest MySpace page: www.myspace.com/washingtonstatefiddlerscontest.
Happy Fiddlin,'
Earl Calvert
WOTFA Contest Chairman
(509) 886-1614
Email: wotfacontest@hotmail.com
Updated 1/15/2010