Idaho State Old Time Fiddle Championship

The Idaho State Fiddle Contest uses the same contest rules as the National Old Time Fiddlers’ Contest held in Weiser, Idaho. Competitors are required to play a hoedown, a waltz, and a tune of choice (not a waltz or a hoedown) within a four-minute time limit for each contestant.

The judging criteria are: oldtime fiddling style, danceability, rhythm and timing, and tone quality. A simple tune, played well, is scored higher than a difficult tune that is played poorly. There are three judges and each gives a score out of 100 for each tune a fiddler plays (a perfect score for one round is 900). To reduce bias, judging is done from a room away from the competition area. Judges only hear the number of the competitor and the performance.

Categories of the competition are Small Fry (ages 8 & under), Junior-Junior (ages 9-12), Junior (ages 13-17), Young Adult (ages 18-36), Adult (ages 37-59), senior (ages 60-69), and Open Division. The winners in each category are certified to the National Old time Fiddlers’ contest in Weiser next June.

For more information contact Ken Worthington at 208-788-3969 or 208-720-3358.