2024 Fiddling contest

Date: Sunday, February 25 2024
Time: 12 p.m. (noon) 
Location: Relais du Voyageur at the Centre culturel franco-manitobain (CCFM) Salle Jean-Paul Aubry, 340 Provencher Blvd
Registration: Online pre-registration or same day in-person registration is permitted. See contest rules for more details.

10:30 AM to 12 PM | On-site registration
10:30 AM to 12 PM | Two house accompanists available for rehearsal
11 AM | Doors open to the public
12 PM | Program Begins
12:10 PM | Métis Fiddling Competition

• 12 years and under
• 13 to 16 years
• 17 years and older

12:45 PM | Old Time Fiddling Competition

• 7 years and under
• 8 to 10 years
• 11 to 13 years
• 14 to 17 years
• Intermission / Jamboree
• 18 years and older
• 55 years and older
• Championship
• Intermission / Advanced Jamboree

4:30 PM (approx.) | Presentation of awards

CLICK HERE to purchase tickets to attend the Fiddling Contest.

$10 (adult) | $5 (6-17) | Free (5 and under) | Free for registered participants and their guardian if under 18 years old

RULES AND REGULATIONS

Each contestant must confirm their registration through one of the following methods:
• The preferred method is pre-registering online at https://forms.gle/61B3KtW7JVVZrMjKA by 12 p.m. February 23. Those pre-registered must still check-in at the registration table upon arrival (alternatively, in person can be done between 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on the day of competition);
• Only registered contestants will be allowed to participate in the contest;
• Contestants must have their own instrument;
• Each contestant can register in one Old Time Fiddle category and one Métis Fiddle Category;
• The order of play will be determined randomly by the registration volunteers;
• Free admission for all contestants (and a guardian if under 18 years of age).

ADDITIONAL RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR OLD TIME FIDDLE CLASSES

• Contestants must play a Waltz, Reel (breakdown, hoedown), and a tune of choice. The tune of choice must be an old time fiddle tune, other than a waltz or reel (examples include: Jig, Polka, Rag, Foxtrot, Clog, Schottische).
These tunes may be played in any order. Novelty tunes such as Orange Blossom Special and Listen to the
Mockingbird are not permitted;
• Participants in the 7 & Under category must play a Waltz and a tune of choice. They may be played in any order;
• Contestants are required to provide chord charts to the house accompanist for difficult or unknown tunes, or they
may provide their own accompanist. Only one accompanist is allowed;
• Any contestant winning the championship three (3) times in the same category will not be eligible to participate
the following year;
• House accompanists will be available to practice until 12 p.m. (noon);
• There will be three qualified judges and the judges’ decisions are final.

ADDITIONAL RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR MÉTIS FIDDLE CLASSES

• The Métis Fiddle classes are open to all fiddlers regardless of ethnicity;
• Contestants must play one Reel (Traditional, Métis; i.e.: Old Reel of 8, Drops of Brandy, Reel of 4, etc., or a tune known to be adopted by the Métis such as Big John McNeil, Whiskey Before Breakfast, etc.);
• Fiddle may be cross-tuned if the tune requires it; however it must be tuned prior to getting on stage;
• The only accompaniment is the clogging of the fiddle player’s feet;
• Timing and tempo must be in unison without variation of tempo;
• The music and the clogging should ideally start simultaneously;
• There will be two qualified judges and the judges’ decisions are final

For more info, please contact Patti Kusturok, Event Coordinator, via phone or text at (204) 890-3435 or by email at [email protected].