IMPORTANT: This web page/site will no longer exist after September, 2007. The National Park Service has moved to a new format for all park web sites. Lowell National Historical Park's new web site is now "live" and can be found here.

28th Annual Banjo & Fiddle Contests
Sept. 8, 2007

For More Information, Call (978) 970-5000 or email us.

The sounds of Bluegrass, Dixieland, old time mountain picking, and the strains of ethnic dance tunes from all over the world will flow from Boarding House Park in Lowell, Massachusetts, on Saturday, September 8, 2007, during the Banjo and Fiddle Contests. The public is invited to a full day of music, food and family fun. The event is free, but donations will be accepted. Workshops on Mountain Dulcimer, Oldtime Fiddle, Oldtime Banjo, Twin and Bluegrass Fiddle, and Bluegrass Banjo begin at 10:00 a.m.

The contests begin at noon and continue throughout the afternoon. Preregistration for contestants is suggested. A printable Contestant Registration Form is available.

Banjo and fiddle players of all ages, experts and beginners alike, compete for cash prizes and trophies in this annual competition. Participants have ranged in age from four years to seventy-five, many traveling from as far away as North Carolina, and Quebec. Musicians interested in participating should preregister by contacting the Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center, 246 Market Street, Lowell, (978) 970-5000. Contest entry is free.

For more information, please call (978) 970-5200. Boarding House Park is located at 40 French Street, Lowell. The rain location is Lowell High School Auditorium across from the Boarding House Park. Both locations are wheelchair accessible.

The Banjo & Fiddle Contests are sponsored by Lowell National Historical Park, Lowell Festival Foundation, and the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

2005 Winners!

Bluegrass Banjo
1st Rick Fries
2nd Chip Sloan
3rd Keith Hillyard

Hon. Mention
Michelle Canning
Jake Comeau

Oldtime Banjo
1st Linda Abrams
2nd Bennett Hammond
3rd Jim Bollman

Bluegrass Fiddle
1st Amberly Rosen
2nd David Kassell

Oldtime Fiddle
1st Mark Simons
2nd Leo Le Blanc
3rd Aaron Hollman

Hon. Mention
Elian Ishii
Andrew Banning

Ethnic Fiddle
1st Lauren Brunswick
2nd Andy Reiner
3rd Gordon Muise

Hon. Mention
Natalya Trudeau
Andreww Hanley


Twin Fiddle
1st Andy Reiner/Amberly Rosen
2nd Danny Spurr?Alan Kaufman
3rd Linda Hudson/Sarah Nelson

Banjo and Fiddle
1st Mark Simons/Jim BollmN
2nd Beth Eldridge/woody Pringle
3rd Paul Boyd/Tim Rowell

Hon. Mention
Kate Hanlon/Herb Braodbent

Banjo-Other Styles
1st Alan Kaufman
2nd William Bole
3rdn Dick Chase

H. Mention
Peter Barberella

And Perhaps the most important of all...

The Andy Woolf Memorial Award for Musical Excellence; in honor of my dear friend and picking partnerof 35 years, 20 times judge in Lowell: This award is given for the most promising musician at the event:

Chris Overholser

2004 WINNERS!

Bluegrass Banjo
1. Aaron Johnson
2. Glenn Nelson
3. Louis Kaplan
Hon. Mention-- Jake Comeau

Oldtime Fiddle
1. Tim Dolan
2. Phil McArthur
3. Jon Gersh
Hon. Mention--Richard Burgess
Jim Bollman

Banjo-Other Styles
1. Alan Kaufman
2. Diane Sanabria
3. Richard Mungo

Ethnic Fiddle
1. Gordon Muise
2. John Shea
3. Anna Faulkenau
Hon. Mention----Linda Hudson
Natalya Trudeau

Twin Fiddle
1. Shaun Balin/Andu Reiner

Banjo and Fiddle
1. Eric Merrill/Bollman
2. Anya Schoenegge/ Richard Burgess
3. Beth Eldridge/ Woody Pringle
Hon. Mention--- Alan Kaufman/Tim Rowell
Phil McArthur/Tom Sample

Bluegrass Fiddle
1. Natalya Weinstein
2. Andy Reiner
3. George Touchstone
Hon Mention---Shaun Balin

2003 Winners

Ethnic Fiddle
1. Maggie Holtzberg
2. Andy Hanley
3. Mark Owen
Honorable Mention:
Andy Reiner
Christopher Overholsen
Natalya Trudeau

Bluegrass Fiddle
1. Leo LeBlanc
2. Jason Anick
3. Mog Flynn
H.M. David Kassel

Old Time Fiddle
1.George Touchstone
2. Kevin O'Brien
3. Ronald Robichaud

Banjo-Other Styles
1. Roger Michel
2. Dick Chase
3. Richard Mungo

Bluegrass Banjo
1. Rick Fries
2. C. James Zurolo
3. Joan Kunsleman

Old Time Banjo
1. Jim Bollman
2. Phil McArthur
3. Tim Dolan
H.M. Linda Abrams

Banjo and Fiddle
1. Tom Sample & Phil MacArthur
2. George Touchstone & Tim Rowell
3. Daniel Spurr & Daniel Thompson
H.M. Kevin O'Brien & Maurice Lesses

Twin Fiddle
1. Jason Anick & Andy Reiner
2. Maggie Holtzberg & Chip Taylor Smith
3. Andy Hanley & Tiffany Rozemas