Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention Winners

Overview
Winners

2024 Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention Winners

In-Person Competition

Judges' Choice Winners

Eastman Guitar: Steve Hung

Eastman Mandolin: Rose Columb

Gold Tone Banjo: Wyn Gorby

Claude Martin Memorial Fiddle Award by luthier Thomas Precht: Eli Gorby

Common Ground on the Hill Scholarship Award (5 workshops): Lauren Amanda Garrett

band and individual competition winners

Best Band Overall: Intemperate Reelers

2024 Fiddle: Todd Clewell

2024 Guitar: MIchael Riedm:an

2024 Banjo: Christopher Curran

2024 Mandolin: Emily Day

2024 Vocalist: Julia Gabriel

2024 Special Performer: David Kilby

2024 Young Performer: Eli Gorby

2024 Virtual Contest Winners

2024 Banjo: Jakob Wiswesser

2024 Fiddle: Micah John

2024 Guitar: Damian Gadiyak

2024 Vocalist: Micah John

Judges

Many thanks to our distinguished judges: Karen Ashbrook, Joe Herrmann, Sam Herrmann

Looking for Acoustic Roots Songwriting Competition Winners?

See the winners HERE.

Special Thanks to our prize Sponsors:

Eastman Guitars

Gold Tone

Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival

Thomas Precht, Luthier

This year's competition was funded in part by grants from the following:

Maryland State Arts Council

Carroll County Arts Council

Carroll County Office of Tourism

Carroll County Times

McDaniel College

2023 Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention Winners

Judges' Choice Instrument Winners

Eastman Guitar: Ryan Rissler

Gold Tone Banjo: Sam Hatch

Claude Martin Memorial Fiddle Award, sponsored by luthier Thomas Precht: Gabe Poulios

Luthier Thomas Precht and winner Gabe Poulios

2023 Fiddle

1st Place: Luke Giles

2nd Place: Paul Tooley

3rd Place: Stacy Small-Lorenz

2023 Guitar

1st Place: Damian Gadiyak

2nd Place: Rylan Rissler

2023 Ensemble

1st Place: The Idle Diddlies

2nd Place: Tom & Douglas Holmberg

2023 Vocal

1st Place: Heather Pankl

2023 Special performer

1st Place: Steafan Hannigan

2nd Place (tie): Doug Holmberg, David Kilby

3rd Place: Ben Kepler

2023 Young Performer

1st Place: Gabe Poulios

2nd Place: Damian Gadiyak

Judges

Many thanks to our judges: Andy Cohen, Emily Martin and Lydia Sylvia Martin

Looking for Acoustic Roots Songwriting Competition Winners?

See the winners HERE.

Special Thanks to our prize Sponsors:

Eastman Guitars

Gold Tone

Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival

Thomas Precht, Luthier

This year's competition was funded in part by grants from the following:

Maryland State Arts Council

Carroll County Arts Council

Carroll County Office of Tourism

Carroll County Times

McDaniel College

2022 Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention Winners

Judges' Choice Instrument Winners

Eastman Guitar: Damian Gadiyak

Eastman Mandolin: Jonathan Rudie

Gold Tone Banjo: Colinda Blankenship

Colinda Blankenship with Common Ground on the Hill Executive Director Walt Michael

Claude Martin Memorial Fiddle Award, sponsored by luthier Thomas Precht: Doug Holmberg

L-R: Tom Holmberg, luthier Thomas Precht, winner Doug Holmberg

2022 Fiddle

1st Place: Liesl Mom

2nd Place: Elizabeth Cunha

3rd Place: Malachi Henderson

2022 Guitar

1st Place: Steve Hung

2nd Place: Damian Gadiyak

3rd Place: Josh Hetrick

2022 mandolin

1st Place: Aly Maris

2nd Place: Jonathan Rudie

3rd Place: DJ Kessinger

2022 Ensemble

1st Place: Saskia & Steafan

2022 Eileen Carson Schatz Memorial Appalachian Dance

1st Place: Jan Scopel

2022 Vocal

1st Place: Donna Korn

2nd Place: Bayla Davis

3rd Place: Jane Story

2022 Special performer

1st Place: Dave Burkitt

2nd Place: Michael Ronstadt

3rd Place: Doug Homberg

2022 Young Performer

1st Place: Damian Gadiyak

2nd Place: Everly Davis

3rd Place: Alecia Gadiyak

Judges

Many thanks to our judges: Andy Cohen, Amy Ferebee, Lydia Sylvia Martin and Alexander Mitchell

Looking for Acoustic Roots Songwriting Competition Winners?

See the winners HERE.

Special Thanks to our prize Sponsors:

Eastman Guitars

Gold Tone

Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival

Thomas Precht, Luthier

This year's competition was funded in part by grants from the following:

Maryland State Arts Council

Carroll County Arts Council

Carroll County Office of Tourism

Carroll County Times

McDaniel College

2021 Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention Winners

Judges' Choice: Instrument Winners

Eastman Guitar: Damian Gadiyak

(L-R) Damian Gadiyak, Common Ground on the Hill Executive Director Walt Michael)

Eastman Mandolin: Emme Davis

Gold Tone Banjo: Bayla Davis

Emme Davis (L) with her new Eastman mandolin and Bayla Davis with her new Gold Tone banjo

Claude Martin Memorial Fiddle Award: Myles Thomas

(L-R) Common Ground on the Hill Executive Director Walt Michael, Myles Thomas, luthier Thomas Precht

Grand Prize Winner

Abraham Joyner-Meyers

2021 Bluegrass Fiddle:

1st Place: Sarah Gilbert

2nd Place: Elizabeth Cunha

3rd Place: Micah John

Celtic instrumentalist

1st Place: Niccolo Seligmann

2nd Place: Abraham Joyner-Meyers

3rd Place: Katey Aucoin

Guitar

1st Place: Joe Herrmann

2nd Place: Chuck Becker

3rd Place: Steve Hung

Mandolin

1st Place: Chuck Becker

2nd Place: Susan Burns

3rd Place: Emme Davis

Old-Time Banjo

1st Place: Abraham Joyner-Meyers

2nd Place: Joe Herrmann

3rd Place: Darrow Sherman

Old-Time Fiddle

1st Place: Darrow Sherman

2nd Place: Niccolo Seligmann

3rd Place: Henry Barnes

Vocalist

1st Place: Lydia Foy

2nd Place: Micah John

3rd Place: Bayla Davis

Young Performer

1st Place: Clara Becker

2nd Place: Damian Gadiyak

3rd Place: Eliza Mood

Judges

Many thanks to our judges: Andy Cohen, Jo Morrison, Harry Orlove and Mark Schatz

Looking for Acoustic Roots Songwriting Competition Winners?

See the winners HERE.

Special Thanks to our Instrument Sponsors:

Eastman Guitars

Gold Tone

Thomas Precht, Luthier

2020 Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention Winners

Judges' Choice winners

Eastman Guitar: Abraham Joyner-Meyers of Takoma Park, MD

Eastman Mandolin: Tzipora Ruehl of Coquille, Oregon

Gold Tone Banjo: Ronda Foust Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Cordoba Ukulele: Miriam Maaravi of Seattle, Washington

Headway Violin Pickup: Katelynn Casper of Finksburg MD

Judge’s Choice Full Tuition to Traditions Weeks Online: Katey Aucoin of Stellarton, Nova Scotia

2020 Eileen Carson Schatz Memorial Southern Appalachian dance

1st Place: Becky Hill of Brentwood, MD

2nd Place: Marsha Searle of Falls Church, VA

2020 Guitar

1st Place: Abraham Joyner-Meyers of Takoma Park, MD

2nd Place: Benjamin Farnum of Galena, Missouri

3rd Place: Richard Hood of Mosheim, Tennessee

2020 Bluegrass Fiddle

1st Place: Eric Lee of Northampton, MA

2nd Place: Katelynn Casper of Finksburg, MD

3rd Place: Alani Sugar of Eldersburg, MD

2020 old-time fiddle

1st Place: Amelia Parker of Centra West River, Nova Scotia

2nd Place: Andrew Small of Floyd, Virginia

3rd Place: Katelynn Casper of Finksburg MD

2020 Bluegrass banjo

1st Place: Norm Farnum of Galena, Missouri

2nd Place: Richard Hood of Mosheim, Tennessee

2020 Old-time banjo

1st Place: Norm Farnum of Galena, Missouri

2nd Place: Richard Hood of Mosheim, Tennessee

2020 Mandolin

1st Place: Emily Wilson of Littleton, Colorado

2020 Celtic Instrumentalist

1st Place: Amelia Parker of Central West River, Nova Scotia

2nd Place: Katey Aucoin of Stellarton, Nova Scotia

3rd Place: Abraham Joyner-Meyers of Takoma Park, MD

2020 special performer

1st Place: Niccolo Seligmann of Westminster, MD

2nd Place: Per Stian WØlneberg of Bjorbekk, Norway

3rd Place: Zoe Zsebenyi of Baltimore, MD

2020 Vocalist

1st Place: Danielle Vita of Island Park, NY

2nd Place: Miriam Maaravi of Seattle, Washington

3rd Place: Michael Hall of Lexington, Kentucky

2020 young performer

1st Place: Eliza Mood of Johnstown, PA

2nd Place: Tzipora Ruehl of Coquille, Oregon

3rd Place: Eric Michael Zsebenyi of Baltimore, MD

2019 Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention Winners

2019 judges' choice winners

Eastman Guitar: Keagan Justice

Eastman Mandolin: Mickey Justice

Gold Tone Banjo: Rob Caswell

Headway Violin Pickup System: Peri Leighty

Musilia P2 Violin Case: Katelynn Casper

2019 Band

1st Place: Ghost Sugar

2nd Place: 896 Southbound

2019 Celtic Ensemble

1st Place: Darrow Sherman & Peri Leighty

2019 Bluegrass Fiddle

1st Place: Katelynn Casper

2019 Old-Time Fiddle

1st Place: Katelynn Casper

2nd Place: Perid Leighty

3rd Place: Darrow Sherman

2019 Guitar

1st Place: Keagan Justice

2nd Place: Mickey Justice

2019 Old-Time Banjo

1st Place: Rob Caswell

2nd Place: John Bolten

3rd Place: Colinda Blankenship

2019 Special Performer

1st Place: Rob Caswell

2nd Place: Keagan Justice

3rd Place: Colinda Blankenship

2019 Vocalist

1st Place: Katelynn Casper

2nd Place: Mickey Justice

3rd Place: John Bolten

2019 Young Performer

1st Place: Hannah Caswell

2nd Place: Damian Gadiyak

3rd Place: Eric Michael Zsebenyi

2018 Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention Winners

2018 Judges' Choice

Eastman Guitar: Eric Zsebenyi

Eastman Mandolin: Willie Marschner

Full Tuition to Traditions Weeks 2019: Avagail Hubert

2018 Bluegrass Band

1st Place: Mosley Brothers

2nd Place: Shannon Bielski & Moonlight Drive

2018 Bluebrass Banjo

1st Place: Gabriel Epstein

2018 Old-Time Band

1st Place: Back Step Cindy

2nd Place: RIKITIKITIN

2018 Bluegrass Fiddle

1st Place: Avagail Hubert

2nd Place: Peri Leighty

3rd Place: Hollyrose Weber

2018 Old-Time Fiddle

1st Place: Alani Sugar

2nd Place: Hollyrose Weber

3rd Place: Darrow Sherman

2018 Celtic Ensemble

1st Place: Rikitikitin

2018 Celtic Instrumentalist

1st Place: Peri Leighty

2nd Place: Abraham Joyner-Meyers

3rd Place: Darrow Sherman

2018 Guitar

1st Place: Joey Mosley

2nd Place: Woody Norris

3rd Place: Chris James

2018 Mandolin

1st Place: Jacob Mosley

2nd Place: Kyle Windbeck

3rd Place: Kenny Wise

2018 Vocalist

1st Place: Elizabeth Burkholder

2nd Place: Jacob Mosley

3rd Place: Michael Kelly

2018 Young Performer

1st Place: Willie Marschner

2nd Place: Elizabeth Burkholder

3rd Place: Hannah Caswell

2018 Songwriter

1st Place: Shannon Bielski

2nd Place: Jennifer Burkholder

3rd Place: Michael Kelly

2017 Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention Winners

Judges' choice Instrument winners

Eastman Guitar: Tim Bradley

Eastman Fiddle: Dean Evans

Eastman Mandolin: Mike Shaffer

Caswell Banjo: Noah Bowman

2017 Bluegrass Banjo

1st Place: Gideon Werner

2nd Place: Michelle Canning

2017 Bluegrass Fiddle

1st Place: Peri Leighty

2nd Place: Clare Brown

3rd Place: Willie Marschner

2017 Celtic Ensemble

1st Place: Darrow Sherman & Peri Leighty

2017 Celtic Instrumentalist

1st Place: Peri Leighty

2017 Guitar

1st Place: Tim Bradley

2017 Mandolin

1st Place: Tim Bradley

2017 Old-Time Banjo

1st Place: Mark Schatz

2nd Place: Noah Bowman

3rd Place: Donna Evans

2017 Old-Time Fiddle

1st Place: Peri Leighty

2nd Place: Willie Marschner

3rd Place: Clare Brown

2017 Songwriter

1st Place: Mark Schatz

2nd Place: Michelle Canning

2017 Vocalist

1st Place: Deborah Kauffmann

2nd Place: Clare Brown

3rd Place: Tim Bradley

2017 Young Performer

1st Place: Logan Jones

2nd Place: Mac Nifontoff

3rd Place: Willie Marschner

2017 Special Recognition

Bluegrass Band: Werner Family Band

Old-Time Band: Evans Family Band

Special Performer: Linda Huber

2016 Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention Winners

Winners of the 2016 Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention,
with organizer Walt Michael of Common Ground on the Hill (rear, far right)

Judges Choice: Instrument Winners

Eastman Guitar Winner: Daniel Caton

Eastman Fiddle Winner: Darrow Sherman

Eastman Mandolin Winner: Micky Justice

Gold Tone Banjo Winner: Victor Furtado

2016 Bluegrass Band

1st: Headwaters: Kyle Windbeck, Logan Sutton Joey Mosley, Derrick Cole, Kenny Windbeck

2016 Bluegrass Banjo

1st: Kyle Windbeck

2nd: Levi Sanders

2016 Bluegrass Fiddle

1st: Peri Leighty

2016 Celtic Ensemble

1st: Darrow Sherman & Peri Leighty

2016 Celtic Instrumentalist

1st: Darrow Sherman

2nd: Peri Leighty

2016 Guitar

1st: Joey Mosley

2nd: Kyle Windbeck

3rd: Victor Furtado

2016 Mandolin

1st: Taylor Baker

2nd: Victor Furtado

3rd: Mickey Justice

2016 Old-time Band

1st: Claude, Erica and Company!

2016 Old-time Banjo

1st: Victor Furtado

2nd: Elizabeth Baker

3rd: Noah Bowman

2016 Old-time Fiddle

1st: Claude Martin

2nd: Elizabeth Baker

3rd: Peri Leighty

2016 Vocalist

1st: Mickey Justice

2nd: Jerry Leitner

3rd: Claude Martin

2016 Young Performer

1st: Mac Nifontoff

2016 Special Performer

1st: Mickey Justice

2nd: Erica Snow

3rd: Victor Furtado

2015 Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention Winners

2015 Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention Winners​

2015 Bluegrass Band

1st: Headwaters: Logan Sutton, Joey Mosley, Kyle Windbeck

2nd: Southern Brewed Bluegrass Band: Joey Mosley, Jacob Mosley, Jeremy Mosley, Justin Klaverweiden

2015 Bluegrass Banjo

1st: Kyle Windbeck ~ Kyle received a banjo courtesy of Gold Tone

2nd: Justin Klaverweiden

2015 Bluegrass Fiddle

1st: Joseph McAnulty

2nd: Rebecca Weiss

3rd: Peri Leighty

2015 Celtic Ensemble

1st: Peri Leighty & Rebecca Weiss

2015 Celtic Instrumentalist

1st: Peri Leighty

2nd: Rebecca Weiss

3rd: Nathaniel Johnston

2015 Guitar

1st: Joey Mosley ~ Joey received a guitar courtesy of Eastman Instruments.

2nd: Kyle Windbeck

3rd: Kevin Neidig

2015 Mandolin

1st: Jacob Mosley

2nd: Taylor Baker

2015 Mandolin - Judge's Choice

Taylor Baker ~ Taylor received a mandolin courtesy of Eastman Instruments.

2015 Clogging

1st: Mark Schatz

2015 Old-time Band

1st: Four Taters (Joe Herrmann, Mark Schatz, Bob Winans, Luke Chohaney)

2nd: Banana Express (Elizabeth Baker and Mary Dunlap)

2015 Old-time Banjo

1st: Mark Schatz

2nd: Elias Johnston

3rd: Elizabeth Baker

2015 Old-time Fiddle

1st: Joe Herrmann

2nd: Rebecca Weiss

3rd: Peri Leighty

2015 Vocalist

1st: Elizabeth Baker

2nd: Kevin Neidig

3rd: Luke Chohaney

2015 Young Performer

1st: Silas Werner

2nd: Anna Herz

2015 Special Performer

1st: David Kilby

2nd: Nathaniel Johnston

The judges had a tough time sorting through 70 entries, but they’ve come up with the winners of the Second Annual Common Ground On The Hill Acoustic Roots Songwriting Contest.

The winners are:

1st Place: "Bury Me in the Sky" by William Ellis, Kim Richardson, Mary Unobsky and Willie Pevear.

2nd Place: "The Man Who Drank Your Life Away" by Kevin Hale

3rd Place (tie): "Muscadine" by John Bolten

3rd Place (tie): "I Am An Immigrant" by Jesse Palidofsky

Honorable Mentions

"Stinkbug Stomp" by David Dishneau

"Hold Your Torch" by Jim Morris

“The entries underscored the broad reach of acoustic roots music,”
Contest coordinator David Morris
“Folk, jazz, blues, bluegrass, Americana and country were all represented. It was hard for the judges to listen to so many wonderful songs and pick just a handful of winners."
Contest coordinator David Morris

Songwriters David Roth, Dawn Kenney and Rod MacDonald joined Morris as judges.

The judges had a tough time sorting through 70 entries, but they’ve come up with the winners of the Second Annual Common Ground On The Hill Acoustic Roots Songwriting Contest.

The winners are:

1st Place: "Bury Me in the Sky" by William Ellis, Kim Richardson, Mary Unobsky and Willie Pevear.

2nd Place: "The Man Who Drank Your Life Away" by Kevin Hale

3rd Place (tie): "Muscadine" by John Bolten

3rd Place (tie): "I Am An Immigrant" by Jesse Palidofsky

Honorable Mentions

"Stinkbug Stomp" by David Dishneau

"Hold Your Torch" by Jim Morris

“The entries underscored the broad reach of acoustic roots music,”
Contest coordinator David Morris
“Folk, jazz, blues, bluegrass, Americana and country were all represented. It was hard for the judges to listen to so many wonderful songs and pick just a handful of winners."
Contest coordinator David Morris

Songwriters David Roth, Dawn Kenney and Rod MacDonald joined Morris as judges.

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
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Week 2

7/6/25
-
7/11/25
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Week 3

7/13/25
-
7/18/25
Download Schedule