2010 Music Competitions
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| RockyGrass mandolin contest |
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Once again, instrumentalists and bands from around the country will take part in the nationally recognized RockyGrass band and instrument contests, vying for beautiful instruments, cash prizes, and well-deserved recognition.
Thanks to KGNU Community Radio for the live broadcast of the 2009 instrument contest finals on Saturday morning.
Registration for the 2010 contests will open at December 9, 2009 - when all other 2010 festival tickets go on sale.
2010 RockyGrass Band Competition
Bands perform around a single microphone in the Wildflower Pavilion on Saturday and finals take place Sunday morning in the Wildflower Pavilion. Awards include an invitation to play a set at the 2011 Festival, cash prizes, and more...
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| 2009 Band Contest Finalists |
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2009 Finalists
Congratulations to the top 3 bands in the 2009 band contest. After an intense and consistently impressive final performance in the Wildflower Pavilion on Sunday, July 26 - the judges selected 49 Special as the winner of the 2009 RockyGrass Band Contest. Congratulations to all of this year's finalists:
- 1st place: 49 Special (San Francisco, CA)
- 2nd place: Packway Handle Band (Athens, GA)
- 3rd place: The Hillbenders (Springfield, MO)
2010 Contest Registration
- Contest registration opens on December 9, 2009 - online at shop.bluegrass.com or 800-624-2422. We only accept 12 bands. Spaces fill up quickly.
- The registration fee is $75. This registration fee is fully refundable if you notify us before June 25, 2010.
2010 Band Competition Rules
- Please note: Contestants are required to use one stage mike for the preliminary and final rounds of the band contest.
- No more than 12 bands will be registered for the band contest.
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The band contest is held inside the festival grounds, so all band members must have tickets for the festival for the days of the contest (Saturday for the preliminary round, Sunday for the finals).
2008 Band Contest winners The High 48s - Bands may consist of 3-6 members. The music should be "Bluegrass," "Old Time", "Western Swing" or "New Acoustic/Newgrass".
- Recommended time limit: 3 minutes per song. The judges mark you down if a selection significantly exceeds 3 minutes.
- No electric instruments or pickups allowed, with exception of electric bass and steel guitar (or lap steel). Only one mic will be provided for each band.
- Each band plays 3 songs in the preliminaries and 3 songs in the finals. The 3 band selections must be the following types: 1. A slow vocal song, 2. An instrumental song, 3. A fast vocal song. Tempos are relative.
- Repeats of songs played in the preliminary round is not allowed in the finals.
- No drum sets or standing percussion allowed.
- Bands entering the contest may have no common members.
Bands Score in These Categories
- 30% Material Selection (taste, difficulty, authenticity/originality...)
- 30% Instrumental Performance (includes ability of soloists and overall instrumental blend) 30% Vocal Performance (lead and harmony)
- 10% Stage Presence
Band Competition Prizes
- 1st Place: $750, strings and Festival main stage performance in the year 2011
- 2nd Place: $500 & strings
- 3rd Place: $300 & strings
- Prizes awarded immediately following final rounds
Band Competition Schedule
- Preliminaries: 12:30pm, Saturday, July 24th in the Wildflower Pavilion.
- Finals: Noon, Sunday, July 25th in the Wildflower Pavilion.
2010 Instrument Contests
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| 2009 Contest Winners |
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The RockyGrass Music Competitions are traditional bluegrass competitions. Instrument competitions include flatpick guitar, mandolin, banjo, dobro, and fiddle. Finalists receive beautiful instruments and cash prizes. The preliminary round is held in the Wildflower Pavilion and the final rounds are held on the RockyGrass main stage for all to enjoy.
2009 Contest Finalists
Congratulations to the top 3 finalists on each instrument in the 2009 contests. Each of these musicians performed on the main stage on Saturday, July 25.
- Dobro Finalists: Adam Frehm (1st place), John Meek (2nd place), Troy Brenningmeyer (3rd place)
- Fiddle Finalists: Rob Hecht (1st place), Amelia Ransom (2nd place), Philip Kramer (3rd place)
- Mandolin Finalists: Dennis Ludiker (1st place), Sterling Abernathy (2nd place), Matt Witler (3rd place)
- Guitar Finalists: Jake Dewhirst (1st place), Jed Clark (2nd place), Rick Cooper (3rd place)
- Banjo Finalists: Luke Dewhirst (1st place), Jake Workman (2nd place), Philip Hartman (3rd place
Contest Registration
- Contest registration for 2010 opens on December 9, 2009. Registrations will be available at shop.bluegrass.com or 800-624-2422 / 303-823-0848.
- The registration fee is $15. This registration fee is fully refundable if you notify us before June 25, 2010.
RockyGrass Instrument Contest Rules
- Because the contest takes place on the Festival grounds, you must have a ticket to the Festival to participate.
- Each competition is limited to 12 registered contestants. If there are still spaces available contest day, you may register on site at the workshop/contest tent on a first come, first served basis.
- Time limit is 3 minutes per song. The judges will mark you down if selections significantly exceed the time limit.
- Contestants plays 2 songs in the preliminary round and 2 songs in the final round if finishing in the top three.
- Repeats of preliminary songs are not allowed in the finals.
- One backup musician allowed. No electric instruments or pickups allowed.
- The Picking contest is judged ”in the blind”; i.e. judges will not be in the audience.
- Contestants who have previously won a contest may not enter that contest again.
- The contestant order will be randomly assigned prior to each round.
- In the event of a tie or virtual tie, the judges as a group will be allowed discretion to come to a consensus regarding the winner(s). A virtual tie is defined as total scores within 5 points of each other. Judges may need to confer to ensure fairness and consistency in the rating process.
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| RockyGrass Fiddle Contest |
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Pickers & Fiddlers Score in the Following Categories
- 50% Overall Ability (includes difficulty, expression, material selection, taste, execution)
- 25% Rhythm
- 25% Tone
2010 RockyGrass Instrument Contest Prizes
Prizes awarded immediately following final rounds on the Main Stage.
Banjo
1st Place: TBD
2nd Place $100
3rd: $50
Flatpick Guitar
1st Place: TBD
2nd Place: $100
3rd Place: $50
Mandolin
1st Place: TBD
2nd Place: $100
3rd Place: $50
Fiddle
1st Place: TBD
2nd Place: $100
3rd Place: $50
Dobro
1st Place: TBD
2nd Place: $100
3rd Place: $50
2010 RockyGrass Instrument Contest Schedule
Banjo
Prelims: 11:30 AM, Friday, July 23rd, Wildflower Pavilion
Finals: 10:45 AM, Saturday, July 24th, Main Stage
Flatpick Guitar
Prelims: 1:00 PM, Friday, July 23rd, Wildflower Pavilion
Finals: 10:30 AM, Saturday, July 24th, Main Stage
Mandolin
Prelims: 2:30 PM, Friday, July 23rd, Wildflower Pavilion
Finals: 10:15 AM, Saturday, July 24th, Main Stage
Fiddle
Prelims: 4:00 PM, Friday, July 23rd, Wildflower Pavilion
Finals: 10:00 AM, Saturday, July 24th, Main Stage
Dobro
Prelims: 5:30 PM, Friday, July 23rd, Wildflower Pavilion
Finals: 9:45 AM, Saturday, July 24th, Main Stage