In the groove: Despite rain, annual Granite Quarry Fiddlers Convention a success

Published 12:10 am Monday, October 10, 2016

The 2016 Granite Quarry Fiddlers Convention was a success despite the nasty weather. Many came out participate in this year’s special 50th annual event. This year’s event highlighted the youth competition, bringing many first timers from as far away as Asheville, Boone and North Wilkesboro.

The proceeds from the event go right back into the community through donations to Granite Quarry Elementary School, Erwin Middle School and East Rowan High School. The Civitan Club hosts an Honors Banquet each year at East Rowan High School to award scholarships to many deserving seniors. It’s the only school in the district that awards students for academic achievements all funded through the Granite Quarry Civitan Club. There are numerous other charities that this event helps to fund.

The 2016 winners are:

The Don & Margaret Livengood Memorial “Award For Excellence in Bluegrass Music” — Will Palmer

The Ralph Pennington Memorial Best Fiddler Award — Josh Green

Youth Division

Youth champion band — Tender Grass

Champion fiddler — Abby Floyd

First runner-up — Teddy Smoker

Second runner-up — Jonah Chaney

Champion banjo — John Lee

First runner-up — Will Palmer

Second runner-up — Ayla Turney

Champion guitar — Jake Goforth

First runner-up — Gabe Bemus

Second runner-up — Jonathan Hoffman

Champion mandolin — Sam Davis

First runner-up — Abigail Hoffman

second runner-up — James Lee

Champion vocal — Maddy Davis

First runner-up — Anneli Burnett

Second runner-up — Elli Jones

Adult division

Champion band — Trail Blazers

First runner-up — Movin’ On Bluegrass

Second runner-up — Parlor House Band

Third runner-up — Gaining Ground

Champion fiddler — Josh Green

First runner-up — Tori Jones

Champion banjo — Tanner Carrick

First runner-up — Alex Edwards

Second runner-up — Jesse Groover

Champion guitar — Daniel Thrailkill

First runner-up — Terry Smith

Second runner-up — Howard Honeycutt

Champion mandolin — Jonah Horton

First runner-up — David O’Brien

Second runner-up — Ian Wright

Champion bass — Ricky Blackwelder

First runner-up — Lynn Powell

Second runner-up — Will Thrailkill

Champion dobro — Danny Hargis

First runner-up — Pammy D. Lassiter

Second runner-up — Sandy Hatley

Champion vocal — Beth Smith

First runner-up — Anna Haigler

Second runner-up — Courtney Perry