Registration deadline is Friday for UTC Fiddle Fest

Jim Wood has won more than 160 first prizes in folk music competitions, including at least seven fiddle championships. He holds 14 state championship titles on fiddle and mandolin (including Tennessee State Fiddle Champion five times) and was the founder of the Tennessee Fiddle Orchestra.Inge Wood is a native of Costa Rica, where she studied classical piano. She came to the United States in her late teens and became involved in the folk music and fiddle traditions of Tennessee. She holds state championship accompanist titles in Kentucky and Alabama and has been guest soloist with the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra.
Jim Wood has won more than 160 first prizes in folk music competitions, including at least seven fiddle championships. He holds 14 state championship titles on fiddle and mandolin (including Tennessee State Fiddle Champion five times) and was the founder of the Tennessee Fiddle Orchestra.Inge Wood is a native of Costa Rica, where she studied classical piano. She came to the United States in her late teens and became involved in the folk music and fiddle traditions of Tennessee. She holds state championship accompanist titles in Kentucky and Alabama and has been guest soloist with the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra.

String musicians interested in learning more about playing American folk music shouldn't fiddle around, but get their registration in for Fiddle Fest, which is being held at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Saturday, Sept. 23.

UTC Fiddle Fest is a day-long workshop to learn about and play American fiddle tunes and folk music in an informal orchestra setting. Musicians will play arrangements by Jim Wood.

"I am the Ruth Holmberg Professor of American Music at UTC, and as such I'm interested in expanding the kinds of American music we offer at the campus," says Dr. Jonathan McNair. "I love folk music and I think it's a legitimate thing for us to offer as a university."

McNair says one of the purposes of Fiddle Fest is to give local people the opportunity to work with clinicians Jim Wood and John Boulware. The two award-winning fiddlers, along with guitarist Inge Wood, will lead the free festival.

"We are bringing excellent musicians - fiddle champions - here to work with community people from ninth grade to adults," says McNair.

photo John Boulware, from Kimball, Tenn., holds state championship titles in Tennessee and Alabama on fiddle and mandolin. In addition to the Tennessee Fiddle Ensemble, he records and performs with the Hamilton County Ramblers and has been guest soloist with the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, the Tennessee Fiddle Orchestra and the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra.

Participants will gather Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in the UTC Fine Arts Center, Roland Hayes Concert Hall, 752 Vine St. Rehearsal on fiddle music begins at 10 a.m.

The Festival will conclude with a free public concert, conducted by Sandy Morris, at 5 p.m. in Roland Hayes Concert Hall. Informal dress is appropriate.

Fiddle Festa is open to violin, viola, cello, bass and guitar players at the intermediate to advanced levels. Any musician from ninth grade to adults may participate. Ability to read music fluently in the clef of your instrument is required due to the nature of the Festival music. Music is available on the Festival website.

Directors do not have to attend, but all out-of-town students will need an adult chaperone on-site. Local students will need a chaperone accessible.

The deadline to register is 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22. To register: www.utcmusic.org.

Upcoming Events