Walnut Valley Festival, Winfield, Kansas
September 14—18, 2011

September 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 2011

Contests are open to anyone except those who are performing as a billed or paid entertainer at the 2011 National Flat Pick Championships and those who have been the First Place winner within the past five years—specifically the years 2006 through 2010. However, previous winners may enter and win contests which they have not won within the last five years. For example, the First Place winner of the Bluegrass Banjo Contest in the last five years may enter and win any or all the other contests. In September 2009, the Walnut Valley Association announced that the contest formerly known as the Walnut Valley Mandolin Championship would become the National Mandolin Championship in September 2010. The first place winner in any previous Walnut Valley Mandolin Championship is eligible to compete in the National Mandolin Championship

Only 40 contestants may compete per contest. This will be the first 40 answering when their names are called from the chronological registration lists, one-half hour before the contest begins. Contestants MUST HAVE A VALID / PURCHASED TICKET for day of contest.

Contestants must play instruments acoustically into microphone. An instrument's electrical capability cannot be used.

Contestants may have one rhythm instrument for accompaniment. It is WVA policy that billed or paid entertainers NOT ACCOMPANY CONTESTANTS. Contestants will not be allowed to take two instruments on stage. Selection committee reserves the right to eliminate contestants whose style of playing and selection of material is not in keeping with the flavor of the festival. A MEDLEY OF TUNES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Maximum playing time of five (5) minutes for all contests except Fiddle.

In an effort to judge the contest objectively and equally, the following criteria will be considered by the judges and assigned point value in each area (except for fiddle and flat pick guitar).

40 points 1. ARRANGEMENT - Contestant's version of the tune selected. Is it appropriate to the tune and instrument? Difficulty and originality will be considered.

40 points 2. EXECUTION, TUNING - Fingering, picking and dynamics will be considered. Is the instrument in tune?

10 points 3. SHOW VALUE - The music should be played with life and feeling. It should not appear listless nor should it drag.

10 points 4. OVERALL IMPRESSION

Specific rules for each contest follow. Contestants may register for the contest by returning the entry form with the necessary fee or by calling 620-221-3250 with a credit card. All registered contestants must confirm their registration at the contest trailer prior to the time registration closes. WE WILL ALSO ACCEPT CONTEST REGISTRATIONS ON GROUNDS UNTIL ONE HOUR BEFORE THE SCHEDULED CONTEST TIME. Order of appearance will be determined by drawing a number one-half hour before the contest begins. If there are nine (9) or less registered, contestants will play three (3) tunes in the first round. Judges will place winners without the additional tunes of a second round. Score cards will NOT be given out. PLEASE NOTE: The judging room only hears the competing instrument and receives no mix or sound coming from accompaniment or rhythm instrument.

INTERNATIONAL AUTOHARP CHAMPIONSHIP - Thurs., Sept. 15, 2011, 9:00 a.m. Stage IV. Entry Fee is $15.

Contestants will be prepared to play four instrumental numbers. No vocals will be allowed. Two numbers will be played in the first round of competition and the other two in the final round should the contestant be selected as a finalist. Contestants may have one rhythm instrument for accompaniment, but not another autoharp. Tunes may be traditional, bluegrass, folk, classical or old-time country. Special tunings will be allowed (e.g. the diatonic just tuning, etc.); however, the contestant will not be allowed to take 2 instruments on stage. Fingerpicks, flatpicks or bare fingers are all acceptable. Lap-style or Appalachian style playing is acceptable. However, a player is not limited to only these techniques. All brands of chorded zithers will be allowed, including custom-made harps. Any custom-made harp must be within the size of the standard (36-37 string) model acoustic autoharp. Maximum playing time of five (5) minutes. We will accept only forty contestants. Contestants must be registered before 8:00 a.m. Sept. 15, 2011 at the Contest Registration Trailer and be present at the contest stage at 8:30 a.m. to draw for order of appearance and receive final instructions. Winners will be announced and will receive their awards immediately after the contest on Stage IV. (See general rules.) .

INTERNATIONAL FINGER STYLE GUITAR CHAMPIONSHIP - Thurs., Sept. 15, 2011, 3:00 p.m. Stage IV. Entry fee is $15.

The Walnut Valley Association has already accepted 40 registrations for the 2011 International Finger Style Guitar Championship. An additional 35 registrations will be accepted and placed on a standby list in case of cancellations or no-shows. To have your name placed at the end of the standby list you may register by calling Walnut Valley Association at 620-221-3250 and using a credit card. You may also register at Festival ground’s Contest Registration Trailer which opens Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011 at 7:00 a.m.

Contestants will be prepared to play four instrumental numbers. Two numbers will be played in the first round of competition and the other two in the final round should the contestant be selected as a finalist. CONTESTANT MAY PLAY ANY STYLE OF MUSIC, BUT FLAT PICK AND SLIDE TECHNIQUES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. Contestants may use thumb and finger picks. NO FLAT PICK. A 12-string guitar is acceptable. Special tunings will be allowed. However, the contestant will NOT be allowed to take two instruments on stage. Maximum playing time of 5 minutes. Standard or traditional style capos may be used, but no capos which allow the alteration of individual strings, such as the Third Hand Capo, will be allowed. We will accept only forty contestants. Contestants must be registered before 2:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011 at the Contest Registration Trailer and be present at the contest stage at 2:30 p.m. to draw for order of appearance and receive final instructions. Winners will be announced immediately and will receive their awards after the contest on Stage IV. The top 3 winners will be required to play in a Friday night performance. (See general rules.)

NATIONAL MOUNTAIN DULCIMER CHAMPIONSHIP - Fri., Sept. 16, 2011, 9:00 a.m. Stage IV. Entry Fee is $15.

Contestants will be prepared to play four instrumental numbers. Two numbers will be played in the first round of competition and the other two in the final round should the contestant be selected as a finalist. Contestant may have one rhythm instrument but not another mountain dulcimer. Maximum playing time of five (5) minutes. We will accept only forty contestants. Contestants must be registered before 8:00 a.m. Friday, Sept. 16, 2011 at the Contest Registration Trailer and be present at the contest stage at 8:30 a.m. to draw for order of appearance and receive final instructions. Winners will be announced and will receive their awards immediately after the contest on Stage IV. (See general rules.)

NATIONAL MANDOLIN CHAMPIONSHIP - Fri., Sept. 16, 2011, 1:00 p.m. Stage IV. Entry fee is $15.

Contestants will be prepared to play four instrumental numbers in either traditional or contemporary bluegrass style. Two numbers will be played in the first round of competition and the other two in the final round should the contestant be selected as a finalist. Maximum playing time of five (5) minutes. We will accept only forty contestants. Contestants must be registered before noon Friday, Sept. 16, 2011 at the Contest Registration Trailer and be present at the contest stage at 12:30 p.m. to draw for order of appearance and receive final instructions. Winners will be announced and will receive their awards immediately after the contest on Stage IV. (See general rules.)

WALNUT VALLEY OLD TIME FIDDLE CHAMPIONSHIP - Fri., Sept. 16, 2011, 6:00 p.m. Stage IV. Entry fee is $15. Maximum playing time of 7 minutes.

This contest will be judged on: AUTHENTICITY (20 points), RHYTHM & TIMING (20 points), EXECUTION (20 points), EXPRESSION (20 points), CREATIVITY (20 points.) Each contestant will play a hoedown, a waltz, and a tune of his/her choice in that order. A hoedown and a waltz - in that order - will be played in the final round should the contestant be selected as a finalist. No trick or fancy fiddling will be allowed. Contestants will be disqualified for playing Mockingbird, Black Mountain Rag, or Orange Blossom Special. We will accept only forty contestants. Contestants must be registered before 5:00 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, 2011 at the Contest Registration Trailer and be present at the contest stage at 5:30 p.m. to draw for order of appearance and receive final instructions. Winners will be announced and will receive their awards immediately after the contest on Stage IV. (See general rules.)

NATIONAL FLAT PICK GUITAR CHAMPIONSHIP - Sat., Sept. 17, 2011, 9:00 a.m. Stage IV. Entry fee is $15.

Contestants will be prepared to play four instrumental numbers in traditional fiddle tune or bluegrass style. Two numbers will be played in the first round and the other two in the final round should the contestant be selected as a finalist. Maximum playing time of 5 minutes. ALL contestants must play with a FLAT PICK. NO FINGER PICKING WILL BE ALLOWED. NO COMBINATION OF FLAT PICKING AND FINGER PICKING WILL BE ALLOWED. The alteration or the tuning of the low E (6th) string will be permitted. The low E (6th) string can be changed to any note desired, not limiting the tuning of the 6th string to "Drop D" or a low D note but to any desired pitch. No other string tuning or variance from the standard E (1), B (2), G (3), D (4), A (5) will be permitted. Some slight, overall variance from concert pitch A=440 will be tolerated. (See #2 in the general rules.) Standard or traditional style capos may be used, but no capos which allow the alteration of individual strings, such as the Third Hand Capo, will be allowed. We will accept only forty contestants. Contestants must be registered before 8:00 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 at the Contest Registration Trailer and be present at the contest stage at 8:30 a.m. to draw for order of appearance and receive final instructions. Winners will be announced and will receive their awards immediately after the contest on Stage IV. The top 3 winners will be required to play in a Saturday night performance on Stage I.

40 points 1. ARRANGEMENT - Contestant's version of the tune selected. Is it appropriate to the tune and arrangement? Is the tune selected in keeping with the flavor of the festival? Is the arrangement original, for the most part, to the contestant, or is it someone else's known arrangement?

40 points 2. EXECUTION & ARTICULATION - Are the notes buzzing and muddy, or are they clear and distinct? Tone - Are the notes full or thin sounding? Timing - Is the tempo steady and constant? Dexterity - Are the notes played in difficult positions up and/or down the finger board or is the piece played for the most part in first and/or second position? Tuning - Is the instrument in tune with itself and relatively close to concert pitch of A=440?

10 points 3. EXPRESSION, DYNAMICS & SHOW VALUE - The music should be played with life and feeling. The performance is not to be based on audience response.

10 points 4. OVERALL IMPRESSION - Paragraphs 1 through 3 are considered at this point.

NATIONAL HAMMER DULCIMER CHAMPIONSHIP - Sat., Sept. 17, 2011, 3:30 p.m. Stage IV. Entry fee is $15.

Contestants will be prepared to play four instrumental numbers. Two numbers will be played in the first round of competition and the other two in the final round should the contestant be selected as a finalist. Originality is encouraged. It will be permissible to pluck one tune, but not necessary. Contestants may have one rhythm instrument but not another hammer dulcimer. Maximum playing time of five (5) minutes. We will accept only forty contestants. Contestants must be registered before 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 at the Contest Registration Trailer and be present at the contest stage at 3:00 p.m. to draw for order of appearance and receive final instructions. Winners will be announced and will receive their awards immediately after the contest on Stage IV. (See general rules.)

NATIONAL BLUEGRASS BANJO CHAMPIONSHIP - Sun., Sept. 18, 2011, 10:00 a.m. Stage IV. Entry fee is $15.

Contestants will be prepared to play four instrumental numbers. Two numbers will be played in the first round of competition and the other two in the final round should the contestant be selected as a finalist. Maximum playing time of five (5) minutes. We will accept only forty contestants. Contestants must be registered before 9:00 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011 at the Contest Registration Trailer and be present at the contest stage at 9:30 a.m. to draw for order of appearance and receive final instructions. Winners will be announced immediately and receive their awards after the contest on Stage IV. (See general rules.)

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