Whitewright Fiddle Fest draws musicians, fans from across the nation
By Louisa Martin
May 28, 2007
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The fiddlers have left the building for the third year of competition in the Whitewright Fiddle Fest. Contestants and audience members said that it truly gets better each year.  The level of competition is amazing for a three-year-old contest. Fiddlers from Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Missouri, and Idaho competed for the Louis Franklin Championship.

 

Once again, the tireless work of Jason Andrew, Larry Franklin, Jean Tykoski and many volunteers made the day happen.  Besides their hard work, the talent of Jason Andrew, Larry Franklin, and Julie Johnson made it sing!  Many thanks also go to the corporate sponsors for their help.

 

There are artists of one kind or another everywhere in our lives and the Whitewright Fiddle Fest is rich with them!  If you missed Saturday’s show, make arrangements now to attend next year. 

 

Everyone should see the Fiddle Fest.

 

The results of each division are as follows.

 

60+ years

1st  Jim Chancellor – Rockwall, TX  - age 64

2nd  E. J. Hopkins – Porter, TX – age 77

3rd  Tom Fonville – Flint, TX – age 68

4th  Boyd Long – Wolfe City, TX – 91

5th  John Blevins – Van, TX – age 68

6th  Buck Ragsdale – Aubrey, TX – age 79

 

0-15 years

1st  Rebekah Enright – Forth Worth, TX – age 14

2nd  Douglas Thompson – Rose, OK – age 14

3rd  Maleika Nugent – Burleson, TX – age 13

4th  Michael Thompson – Rose, OK – age 11

5th  Faith Nugent – Burleson, TX – age 11

6th  Emilie Catlett – Allen, TX – age 14

7th  Matthew Stanley – Olney, TX – age 13

8th  Karissa Nugent – Burleson, TX – age 10

9th  Misty Cloud – Van, TX – age 14

10th  MaKayla Gaby – Emory, TX – age 13

 

16-29 years

1st  Bubba Hopkins – Spauinaw, OK – age 17

2nd  Cody Marriott – Oologah, OK – age 18

3rd  Jordan Franklin – Burleson, TX – age 19

4th  Jason Andrew – Whitewright, TX – age 24

5th  Lydia Elseth – Nacogdoches, TX – age 16

6th  Clayton Bankston – Burleson, TX – age 18

 

30-59 years

1st  Carl Hopkins – Porter, TX – age 47

2nd  Roberta Rast – Dallas, TX – age 30

3rd  Dale Morris, Jr. – Watauga, TX  - age 41

4th   Tonya Hopkins – Porter, TX – age 38

5th  Danita Rast – Boise, ID – age 36

6th  Gordon Townsend – Point Blank, TX – age 53

 

Accompanist

1st  Ray Franklin – Marion, TX – aage 74

2nd  Royce Franklin – Roanoke, TX – age 77

3rd  Anthony Mature – New Waverly, TX – age 40

4th  Steve Williams – Lampassas, TX – age 56

5th  Jerry Thomason – Waxahachie, TX – age 67

6th  Rex Gillentine – Graham, TX – age 53

 

     Our judges were: Valerie O’Brien of Burleson, TX, Ricky Turpin of New Braunfels, TX, and Junior Marriot of Ava, MO.

 

The Louis Franklin Championship which is composed of the top two winners in each division, went to last year’s winner, Carl Hopkins!

 

Other winners were:

2nd  Roberta Rast of Dallas, TX

3rd  Bubba Hopkins of Spauinaw, OK

4th  Jim Chancellor of Rockwall, TX

5th  Cody Marriott of Oologah, OK

6th  Rebekah Enright of Ft. Worth, TX

7th   Douglas Thompson of Rose, OK

8th  E. J. Hopkins of Porter, TX 

 

Carl Hopkins

Dubba Hopkins

Roberta Rast

Dale Morris, Jr.

Tonya Hopkins

Danita Rast

Lydia Elseth

Al Fry sells quality violins at the craft show next door.

Louis Franklin (center) watches a performer

Larry Franklin

Julie Johnson

Louis Franklin seemed to be having a big time taking in a series of outstanding performances.

 

     See you next year!