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Kids Fiddle Contest

Fiddle-playing kids 18 and under, be sure to get to the festival early so you can sign up for the fiddle contest. The first 10 sign-ups in each age-based category will be eligible to compete and sign-ups start at 10:00 a.m. You'll need to sign up at least 15 minutes before your age group's contest starts so sign up by 12:45 if you're under 13 and 1:45 if you're 13-18.)

Many thanks to Robertson and Sons Violin Shop, Encore Music, Apple Mountain Music, and Music Mart for providing prizes for our young fiddlers.

Get an early start! Pick up an entry form and the rules:

Fiddle Contest Rules

PLEASE NOTE THAT SIGN-UPS FOR THE CONTESTS BEGIN AT 10:00 AM ON SATURDAY AND WILL BE CUT OFF 15 MINUTES BEFORE EACH CONTEST. CONTESTS ARE LIMITED TO THE FIRST 10 PEOPLE WHO SIGN UP,

The following contests are scheduled:

  • 1:00 PM Fiddle Contest for ages up to and including 12
  • 2:00 PM Fiddle Contest for ages 13-18

AN ENTRY SHEET IS REQUIRED FOR THE CONTEST. Contests are open to anyone having a current day ticket, except those who are performing as a paid entertainer at the 2009 Albuquerque Folk Festival.

  1. You must have your registration completed at least 15-minutes before the entered contest is scheduled to begin. Performance order will be by random draw, announced at the start of the contest. To keep contests on schedule, Festival Officials will limit competition to the first 10 entries in each contest. Entrants are to perform in the drawn order and may be disqualified by the MC if they are not available when called.
  2. In each contest, the contestant must play two tunes of his/her choice in any folk style. A medley may be considered one tune Selected tunes should be appropriate to the folk musc objectives of the festival. Contestants may use a maximum of one accompanist. Accompanists may NOT take a lead break. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification. All instruments must be acoustic The performance time should be limited to six-minutes or less, the judges may deduct for performances exceeding six-minutes.
  3. Judging is based on a 1 (low) to 10 (high) point system in each of the following equally weighted factors: (1) rhythm; (2) intonation & execution; (3) material selection (difficulty and appropriateness); (4) style; (5) stage presence.
  4. Judges are instructed to judge contestants on the basis of an individual’s performance today only. Judges are to disregard any prior performances or reputation of the contestant. Judges must choose one winner in each category and may request a runoff tune at their discretion. All judging decisions are final.
  5. The winners of each contest will receive a prize and the opportunity to play their winning tune on the Main Stage during the final selection of the band scramble (around 6:50 PM.) All entries will receive a ribbon.

WAIVER--The Albuquerque Folk Festival, a New Mexico non-profit corporation, expressly retains all rights to the performances of all contestants, including all media rights (including all electronic or video media), all reproduction rights, and the right to tape, video record and/or photograph each contestant. Your registration for the fiddle contests shall constitute your acceptance of the foregoing.