L-R: Gage Milton, Lewisville, TX (2nd Place), Mickey Sweeney, Lake St. Louis, MO (1st Place), and Tim Simek, Maryville, TN (3rd Place)
Contest Name: 2023 National Hammer Dulcimer Championship
Date: September 16, 2023 Time: 5:53 p.m.
Mickey Sweeney, Lake St. Louis, MO, took home the title of the National Hammer Dulcimer championship on Saturday at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS. The contest started with 11 contestants. Second place went to Gage Milton, Lewisville, TX, and Tim Simek, Maryville, TN, rounded out the top three. The runners up were Ken Shoemaker, Overland Park, KS, and Clifford White, Jefferson City, MO.
Champion: Mickey Sweeney
City/State: Lake St. Louis, MO
Prize Instrument Selected: Rick Thum 17/17 Professional Chromatic Hammer Dulcimer – Rick Thum Dulcimers, 6710 Twin River Rd, Eureka, MO 63025, 314-406-0690 rthum.com
2nd Place: Gage Milton
City/State: Lewisville, TX
Prize Instrument Selected: Master Works 16/15 CBWXR7 Bantam Weight Chromatic Extended Range Hammer Dulcimer CBWXR7 – Master Works, PO Box 167, 36613 US Hwy 70, Bennington, OK 74723 580-847-2273 masterworksok.com
3rd Place: Tim Simek
City/State: Maryville, TN
Prize Instrument Selected: Songbird Finch Chromatic – Hammer Dulcimer – Songbird Hammer Dulcimers, 803 Whicher Street, Muscatine, IA 52761 563-571-5296 songbirdhd.com
Runners up: Ken Shoemaker, Overland Park, KS, and Clifford White, Jefferson City, MO
11 contestants from 6 states