Best of bluegrass: Who won top prizes at Fiddle Fest competition

The sound of bluegrass music filled the air Feb. 25 during the Fiddle Fest and Southeastern Fiddle Championship at Shelton State Community College.

The festival featured arts, crafts, food vendors and other family friendly activities, along with and the eighth annual Southeastern Fiddle Championship.

Organizers said the Fiddle Fest was designed to maintain the traditions of bluegrass and old-time fiddle music.

The Southeastern Fiddle Championship awarded over $7,500 in prize money in various categories.

Here are the winners:

• Open Fiddle Finals: First prize went to Justin Branum of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Brandon Bounds finished second, Brent Young was third, Steve Butler was fourth and Angelica Branum finished in fifth place.

• Senior Fiddle: First prize went to Allen Senn of Talladega.

• Junior Fiddle: First prize went to Summer Edgington of Nashville, Tennessee. Jerry Womack was second, Jake Atherton was third and Macy Morrison finished in fourth place.

• Youth Fiddle: First prize went to Kadence Edgington of Nashville, Tennessee. Lilly Coleman was second, Allieray Duckett was third, Esme Iyer was fourth and Lily Crownover finished in fifth place.

• Small Frye Fiddle: First prize went to Kade Stewart of Anderson, Alabama. Sophia Gruber was second, Carlee Watkins was third, Jeremiah Bates was fourth, Kate Coleman was fifth and Evie Howard finished in sixth place.

• Mandolin: First prize went to Justin Branum of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Jacob Doerfel was second, Angelica Brannum was third, Kade Stewart was fourth and Jake Atherton finished in fifth place.

• Guitar: First prize went to Al Smith of Jasper, Georgia. Jug Johnson was second, Ashton Wheeler was third, Ryan Burnette was fourth and Jacob Doerfel finished in fifth place.

• Banjo: First prize went to Weston Stewart of Anderson, Alabama. Alex Davis was second, Jared Dailey was third and Ben Roberson finished in fourth place.

• Beginner Musicians: First prize went to Miriam Crownover of Tuscaloosa. Alaina Knight was second, Kade Stewart was third, Jesse Knight was fourth and Callie Doerfel finished in fifth place.

• Buck Dancing/Clogging: First prize went to Callie Doerfel of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Hazel Doerfel was second, Violet Doerfel was third and Emmet Brannum finished in fourth place.

• Bluegrass bands: First prize went to Thorns and a Rose from Richmond, Kentucky. Blue Heart was second and the Murfreesboro Ramblers finished in third place.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Here are the winners in the Fiddle Fest competition at Shelton State