Music erupted after a two-year hiatus with the Northwest Regional Fiddle Contest in Spokane in early May. I couldn’t tell any dropoff among the musicians competing, which was very frustrating for me, as I was counting on everyone struggling to find the right note like I was. But I think everyone had a good time, the performances were terrific and it was good to hear the tunes so familiar to us. Throw in a fun raffle, a chance to shoot a game of pool or bowl a frame, and no one could ask for anything more – except for another fiddle competition.

So a week later, many of us gathered at the Community Center in Chewelah for Fiddlers On The Peak. The atmosphere might be a little more relaxed, but competition was challenging, with marvelous performances in all categories. It is particularly enjoyable to see so many promising fiddlers playing through the small fry, junior and young adult rounds. I’d love to keep playing until they made their way into the Senior Rounds, but then again, I barely get on the stage with the current competition. It was great listening to the guitar/mandolin/banjo competition, the twin fiddling round, and the informal band invitational during the break. I didn’t place in the top five, but I did get some chocolate and I got to waltz with Joanie for a couple of turns across the gym floor. All in all, it was a great month.

In District 2, bordering Idaho as we are, we are looking forward to the National Fiddle Competition in a months’ time in Weiser, the Music Camp in Moses Lake and then the Bluewaters Music Festival in Medical Lake in August. We hope to see more of you at one or more of the above and if you are having trouble moving your fingers along the neck like I am, well, you must rededicate yourself to play the catgut strings for these summer events.

District 2 Chair: Kyle Peterson wotfa.kyle@gmail.com