Deer Creek 54th Annual Fiddlers' Convention Contest

featuring performances by charm city bluegrass and danny paisley & the southern grass.

Requirements: In-Person
Judging
Prizes

Requirements for In-Person Competition

On-site registration runs from 9-10 AM on Sunday, June 2, 2024

Location

The in-person Deer Creek Fiddlers' convention will take place at the Carroll County Farm Museum (500 S. Center Street, Westminster, MD 21157). Click HERE for map. Free parking.

Admission:

  • All Contestants (Youth and Adult): $15
  • All Non-Contestants age 13 and over: $20
  • Non-Contestant Children ages 12 and under: FREE

Categories

  • Bluegrass Band
  • Old-Time Band
  • Celtic Ensemble
  • Fiddle
  • Banjo
  • Guitar
  • Mandolin
  • Special Performer
  • Vocalist
  • Young Performer
  • Appalachian Clogging/Flatfooting

Eligibility

  • All attendees (both contestants and non-contestants) are required to pay admission to the Fiddlers Convention. On-site registration inside the grounds of the Farm Museum.
  • Common Ground on the Hill staff members, members of the Common Ground on the Hill Board of Directors, Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention judges', and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate in this contest.
  • Traditions Weeks instructors who receive honoraria are NOT considered employees of Common Ground on the Hill, and ARE eligible to participate.
  • In return for the right to compete in this contest, all contestants relinquish any and all rights to any recorded or photographic material of the contest and consent to the recording and photographing of their performance by anyone in attendance.
  • Only acoustic instruments will be considered in the individual competitions.  A band may compete with an electric bass.
  • Contestants in the various categories of individual competition (including vocal) may have one backup instrument in addition to their own.
  • Backup instruments are not required.
  • Vocalists may perform a cappella and will receive full consideration by the judges.
  • Vocalists may enter the individual category only as soloists rather than ensembles, and may have one backup instrument in addition to their own.
  • Contestants in the individual categories (including vocal) will have 3 minutes to perform one continuous piece of music.  The piece may be a medley. Points will be deducted for taking more than 3 minutes.
  • Bluegrass and old-time bands must consist of at least 3 individuals playing 3 different types of instruments. Celtic bands/ensembles must consist of at least 2 individuals.  
  • Bands will perform no more than two pieces of music, each not to exceed 3 minutes in length. One piece may be a medley.
  • Bands may include only one a cappella piece as part of their performance.
  • Bands will lose points for going over 6 minutes for their total performance.
  • Bands should not spend their short performance time introducing their individual members or spend time telling band history.
  • Bands should introduce their piece of music and tell where it comes from.
  • NOTE: Bands may not win a Festival (either Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival or Common Ground on the Hill Roots Music & Arts Festival) performance more than once. First Place contestants from prior years will be eligible for cash prizes ONLY.
  • Special Performer includes any instrument not otherwise categorized.

JUDGING

  • ​​​Each contestant will receive a numerical score from a panel of judges.
  • All prizes will be awarded based on contestant placement in only one round of competition as scored by the judges. Only top awards will be given.
  • Instrumental prizes will be awarded by Judges' Choice. Please see the Prizes tab above for details.
  • In the event that any category of competition has only one or two contestants, their scores will be moved to the Special Performance category for placement tabulation.
  • Scoring of the performances by the judges is final.
  • The Young Performer category is for ages 12 and under.

Competition Categories

NOTE: Certain categories are ONLY available during IN-PERSON competition

  • Appalachian Clogging & Flat-footing (IN-PERSON ONLY)
  • Band: Bluegrass (IN-PERSON ONLY)
  • Band: Old-Time (IN-PERSON ONLY)
  • Band: Celtic (IN-PERSON ONLY)
  • Banjo
  • Fiddle
  • Guitar
  • Mandolin
  • Special Performer (any instrument not otherwise categorized)
  • Vocal
  • Young Performer

2024 PRIZES

(NOTE: Prizes subject to change)

Virtual Competition Prizes

Cash prize of $100 will be awarded to the top contestant ONLY in each category. See rules for information.

In-Person Competition Prizes

Judge's Choice Scholarship Prize

‍One (1) winner will receive FREE tuition to FIVE single-period courses during Traditions Weeks workshops at Common Ground on the Hill 2025, valued at $625. Workshops feature renowned musicians including Tony Trischka, Bruce Molsky, Chris Luquette, Bryan McDowell, Barry Mitterhoff, Steafan Hannigan, Saskia Tomkins, Susan Boyer Haley, Ken Kolodner and many more! See note at the bottom of the page for additional details.

‍NOTE:

  • Traditions Weeks offers offers three separate weeks of 5-day workshops in music, dance, visual arts, lecture, film and more.
  • 2025 Workshops take place virtually and in-person. Dates are: VIRTUAL - June 23-27 and IN PERSON - July 6-11 and July 13-18 (on the campus of McDaniel College in Westminster, MD). Winners may select their classes across the weeks. Housing is not included for in-person courses.
  • Each 5-day workshop meets at the same time every day, Monday-Friday.
  • There are 5 separate class periods available each week, and around 180 class offerings in any given week.
  • Most classes are single period; however, certain classes (such as hammered dulcimer and visual arts workshops) are two-period. For example, a contestant who wins 3 single-period classes could choose a 2-period Hammered Dulcimer workshop plus a 1-period Fiddle workshop.
  • Complete information can be found online HERE.

2024 Band Prizes

‍2024 Instrumental Prizes (Judges' Choice)

Instrument prizes, awarded according to judges' choice, may or may not be awarded to category prize winners. The judges' decision regarding the recipients of the instrumental prizes is final.

2024 Prize Fiddle: The Claude Martin Memorial Fiddle Award

Model: Originally a Nippon violin made sometime between 1914 and 1921 by the Suzuki Company of Japan. Includes a case and newly rehaired bow.

Prize Sponsor: Lovingly restored and converted to a 5 string by luthier Thomas Precht.

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2024 Prize Banjo

Model: Gold Tone MM-150 Maple Mountain Openback Banjo (Five String, Maple), valued at $849.99. The Maple Mountain 150 exemplifies Gold Tone's mission: to give you the best instrument for your money. The MM-150 was our first openback banjo and it still offers features found on many higher-priced banjos for less than you'd expect to pay. The half-inch-thick maple rim carries an authentically-designed Whyte Laydie-style scalloped three-piece brass tone ring under an eleven-inch Remo Renaissance head. Premium parts include a comfortable maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with snowflake inlays and a frailing scoop, vintage Fairbanks-style headstock design, planetary tuners, a reproduction of the early 1900s armrest (secured by the banjo's bracket hooks), and No Knot tailpiece. The MM-150 is completely set up at the Gold Tone Factory. Retail value $850. See complete specs HERE.

Prize Sponsor: Gold Tone. Visit their website at goldtonemusicgroup.com/goldtone

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2024 Prize Mandolin

Model: MD315.

Prize Sponsor: Eastman. Visit their website at www.eastmanguitars.com. Maple neck, ebony fingerboard, solid spruce top, solid maple back and sides.

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2024 Prize Guitar

​Model: ACTG1.

Sponsor: Eastman. Visit their website at www.eastmanguitars.com. Natural finish, Mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, solid Sitka spruce top, solid Sapele back/sides.

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cash prizes

Cash Prizes of $100 will be awarded to the top contestant in each individual musician category, as well as to the top contestant in the Vocal and Clogging categories, plus FREE tuition for THREE single-period classes of Traditions Weeks 2025 workshops at Common Ground on the Hill, valued at $375.

Individual musician categories include:

  • Fiddle
  • Banjo
  • Guitar
  • Mandolin
  • Special Instrument (all instruments no listed above)
  • Vocalist
  • Young Performer
  • Appalachian Clogging/Flatfooting

NOTE:

  • Traditions Weeks offers offers three separate weeks of 5-day workshops in music, dance, visual arts, lecture, film and more.
  • 2025 Workshops take place virtually and in-person. Dates are: VIRTUAL - June 24-28 and IN PERSON - July 6-11 and July 13-18 (on the campus of McDaniel College in Westminster, MD). Winners may select their classes across the weeks. Housing is not included for in-person courses.
  • Each 5-day workshop meets at the same time every day, Monday-Friday.
  • There are 5 separate class periods available each week, and around 180 class offerings in any given week.
  • Most classes are single period; however, certain classes (such as hammered dulcimer and visual arts workshops) are two-period. For example, a contestant who wins 3 single-period classes could choose a 2-period Hammered Dulcimer workshop plus a 1-period Fiddle workshop.
  • Complete information can be found online HERE.

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Traditions Weeks

If you've never been, you've missed out. Come join us for three weeks you're sure to remember.

Week 1

6/23/25
-
6/27/25
Download Schedule
View Classes

Week 2

7/6/25
-
7/11/25
Download Schedule
View Classes

Week 3

7/13/25
-
7/18/25
Download Schedule
View Classes
Overview
Winners