Fiddling Tent
Are you here to register for the 2024 Competitions? Registration is here
Come hear the best young (and not so young) aspiring fiddlers in a contest of skill and musicianship at the fiddle contest. Broken into Junior Novice, Novice, Junior (under 17), and Open categories, the full competition set includes a slow air, then a pause, followed by a medley made up of a march, a Strathspey, and a reel. Contestants are judged on technique, faithfulness to the Scottish idiom, and expression. After the competition, stick around while the judge’s decision is considered and listen to an impromptu jam session hosted by the competitors! Registration can be through the RegFox link above (signature will be required on the day of the contest). Same-day registration is offered until the contest commences. Your paid ticket to the games is your registration fee and can be purchased using the BUY TICKETS button above, under Sunday. More information about the requirements of the contest, such as tunes and etiquette, can be found at Scottish Fiddling Revival’s (SFIRE) website in the “Competitions” section.
2024 FIDDLE TENT SCHEDULE*
Saturday
Performances:10:00 AM Cat & Banjo11:00 PM Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddle Club12:30 PM Seán Heely01:30 PM Cat & Banjo02:30 PM Seán Heely03:30 PM TBD
Sunday
Competitions & Workshops:
09:00 AM Fiddling Competition – On-site Registration10:00 AM Fiddling Competition – Performances12:30 PM John Turner Scottish Fiddling Performance01:30 PM Scottish Fiddling Workshop by John Turner03:00 PM John Turner Scottish Fiddling Performance
*Subject to change/adjustment.
2024 Trophy Sponsors
2024 TRophies
Fiddling - Best Air
Peter W. Walker Memorial Award- Sponsored by Peter W. Walker II
Fiddling - Best March- Sponsored by David Brundage
Fiddling - Best Reel
DC Session Players Award- Sponsored by Peter W. Walker II
Fiddling - Best Set
Leah Sparks Memorial Award - Sponsored by PVSFC Friends of Leah Sparks
Fiddling - Most Promising Fiddler
The Jarrett Memorial Award
- Sponsored by VSGA
Fiddling - Adult Novice - 1st Place
The Charles E. Watts Memorial Award
- Sponsored by Barbara Saliunas
Fiddling - Fiddler of the Day - Junior- Sponsored by Maria & Ed Ward
Fiddling - Junior - 1st Place
- Sponsored by Anonymous
Fiddling - Junior - 2nd Place
Ian Smith-Christmas Memorial Award
- Sponsored by Harris Andrews & Ann Gates
Fiddling - Intermediate Junior - 1st Place
- Sponsored by Jesse & Chandler Becker
Fiddling - Intermediate Open - 1st Place
- Sponsored by Jesse & Chandler Becker
Fiddling - Junior - 1st Place
- Sponsored by Anonymous
Fiddling - Open - 1st Place
Paul Brockman Memorial Award- Sponsored by Nancy Brockman
Fiddling - Open - 2nd Place Ronald Duncan Gonnella Award- Sponsored by Clan Donnachaidh Society
Fiddling - Open - 3rd Place John Ward Memorial Award- Sponsored by Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddle Club
Fiddling - Open - 2nd Place Ronald Duncan Gonnella Award- Sponsored by Clan Donnachaidh Society
Fiddling - Open - 3rd Place John Ward Memorial Award- Sponsored by Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddle Club
2024 Medals
In Honor of Claude A. Henderson
- Sponsored by Mark Henderson
In Honor of Mac McComas- Sponsored by Frank McComasIn Memory Norah Gene Richard- Sponsored by Col. (Ret.) Dana G. RichardIn Memory of Presley Cannady Jr.- Sponsored by Peter W. WalkerIn Memory of Joan Gray- Sponsored by Peter W. Walker
SCOTTISH FIDDLE Tent
The VSG Fiddling Tent showcases traditional and modern music from the Scottish tradition, including Cape Breton, Shetland, and related styles. In addition to fun and engaging performances, the Fiddling Tent is also a welcoming location for workshops on traditional fiddling and a fiddling competition sanctioned by SFIRE, the North American association for Scottish Fiddling. Some of the VA Scottish Games fiddling competition winners have gone on to win the US National Scottish Fiddling Competition!
History of Scottish Fiddling
Since its introduction to Scotland at the end of the seventeenth century the violin – often under the name given to older bowed instruments, namely "fiddle" – has been central to the music of Scotland, from the Scandinavian-influenced Orkney and Shetland islands, through the wild dances and mournful airs of the Gaelic Highlands, to the ballrooms and performance halls of the cities, through the Scots lowlands and borders. The music composed for fiddle ranges from the simple anonymous folk tune to the refined compositions of one of Scotland ’s great 18th and 19th century composers, through the modern syncopated influences of today’s musicians. Scottish Fiddling is thus a living tradition, steeped in the past, existing in the present, and anticipating the future. It draws influences from, and influences in return, song from the other great instrumental traditions of Scotland, such as harp and bagpipe. Scottish fiddle music is also unique in the Scottish arts in how it was influenced by Continental music traditions, and how its sounds and rhythms have formed much of the foundation of the fiddle music of the New World. The Scottish Fiddling Tent represents all aspects of this living tradition, from the judge’s instruction, where style points are discussed, to the fiddle competition, where today’s fiddlers are encouraged to achieve their highest potential, to the many concerts and performances showcasing this area’s rich and deep pool of talent on the Scottish fiddle and the instruments that accompany it.