Granite Quarry Civitans Fiddlers' Convention a pickin' party

Courtney Perry awaits her turn to compete at the Granite Quarry Fiddlers' Convention. Granite Quarry Civitan Club photo.

Movin on Bluegrass — Charles Honeycutt, Ricky Blackwelder, Julian Rowland and Howard Honeycutt — practice in the hall. Granite Quarry Civitan Club photo.

A mandolin player picks it fast at the Granite Quarry Civitan Club’s 43rd Annual Fiddlers’ Convention. Bluegrass and old-time music filled East Rowan High School for the club’s annual fundraiser Saturday evening. The Civitan Club raised $6,000 for community projects such as Boy Scouts and scholarships and handed out $1,600 in cash prizes. Granite Quarry Civitan Club photo.

Alex Edwards warms up on the banjo at the Granite Quarry Fiddlers' Convention. Granite Quarry Civitan Club photo.

Longtime bluegrass musician Richard Jones of Granite Quarry got special recognition, and lots of people enjoyed some fine fiddling Saturday night at the 43rd Annual Granite Quarry Civitan Fiddlers' Convention at East Rowan High School.

Judges selected Keith Dunn, of the New Tradition Band of Winston-Salem, as champion fiddler. His band earned the title Champion Band.

The event raised $6,000 for the Civitan Club, according to club member Don Livengood. The event is the club's biggest fundraiser of the year. Members use the money raise from admissions and the sale of food to support community projects including Boy Scouts, Junior Civitans, Good Citizens Awards, scholarships, Special Olympics, Victory Junction Gang Camp, and East Rowan High, Erwin Middle and Granite Quarry schools.

The club also presented $1,600 in cash prizes, trophies and ribbons to winners in a number of categories at the convention. Vivian Hopkins of the Fifth String and Co. of Gold Hill presented Dunn with a miniature fiddle in memory of Hopkins' father, Ralph Pennington, who spent most of his life playing and promoting bluegrass and old-time music.

The Civitan Club honored Jones for "years of dedication to bluegrass and old-time music."

Phillip Willard of Yadkinville served as master of ceremonies, and Mitchell Knight, Jarvis Knight and John Powell served as judges. Mary Wagoner served as scorekeeper.

Ralph Walton serves as Granite Quarry Civitan president.

The top bands, individual winners and most promising talent were:

- Bands: New Tradition of Winston-Salem, led by Danny Bowers, champion; Out of the Blue of Rutherfordton, led by Dennis Watson, first runner-up; Passin' Thru of Star, led by C.H. Lineberry, second runner-up; and Movin' on Bluegrass of Concord, led by Howard Honeycutt, third runner-up.

- Fiddler: Keith Dunn, Winston-Salem, champion; Tommy Killian, Clairmont, first runner-up; Mary Lynn Edwards, Salisbury, second-runner-up.

- Banjo: Dwayne Runyon, Star, champion; Danny Bowers, Winston-Salem, first-runner-up; Mike Suthers, Clairmont, second runner-up; Charles Honeycutt, Concord, third runner-up.

- Guitar: Chevy Watson, Rutherfordton, champion; C.H. Lineberry, Star, first runner-up; Eddie Day, Rural Hall, second runner-up; Jeff Russell, China Grove, third runner-up.

- Mandolin: Milom Williams, Rutherfordton, champion; Mard Burgess, Star, first runner-up; J.C. Rowland, Concord, second runner-up; Connor Lambert, Clairmont, third runner-up.

- Bass: Jim Damron, Star, champion; Rick Blackwell, Concord, second runner-up; Luther Suther, Clairmont, second runner-up; Elizabeth Edwards, Salisbury, third runner-up.

- Dobro: Lynn Rusell, China Grove, champion; Drew Gray, Salisbury, first runner-up; Dennis Sheets, Landis, second runner-up.

- Most promising talent, age 11 and under: Courtney Perry, Stanfield, champion; Jessica Drake, Monroe, first runner-up; Matthew Thomas, Monroe, second runner-up.

- Most promising talent, ages 12-16: James Carlock, New London, champion; Casey Cagle, Locust, first runner-up; Rebekah Robinson, Richfield, second runner-up.