Franklin Girl Wins Beginner Fiddling Championship at Jamboree

July 6, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A Franklin girl won the top Jamboree award Saturday as the best fiddler in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners.

Ella Derby won the coveted James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial Award, named for the man who started the children’s competition during the 1980’s as part of the annual Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival. Members of Mr. Driver’s family sponsored and presented the award to Derby.

Meanwhile Callie Doerfel of Murfreesboro was winner of the Nolan Turner Memorial Entertainer of the Year award. The honor, sponsored by the Turner family, is presented to the best overall instrumental entertainer among winners in the dobro guitar, mandolin, five string banjo, and flat top guitar competition. Turner, who died in October 2017, was a long time Fiddlers’ Jamboree supporter and photographer. Doerfel earned first place in the five-string banjo competition and she took second place in both flat top guitar and dobro guitar. Doerfel was also a second-place winner in the beginner buck dancing and clogging contests.

The National Championship for Country Musician Beginners showcases the talents of children up to age twelve in seven categories of competition.

This year’s winners are as follows:

Beginner Fiddle sponsored by the Driver family: First Place-Ella Derby of Franklin; Second Place- Kadence Edgington of Nashville; and Third Place- Jeremiah Bates of Hartsville

Beginner Buck Dancing sponsored by Security Finance: First Place- Noah Fennell of Dickson, Second Place- Callie Doerfel of Murfreesboro, and Third Place- Lacy Franklin of McEwen

Beginner Clogging sponsored by Attorney Matt Boss: First Place- M.J. Spurlock of Lebanon; Second Place-Callie Doerfel of Murfreesboro, and Third Place- Colette Rainwater of Murfreesboro.

Beginner Dobro Guitar sponsored by Cheryl’s Beau Bees: First Place- Kade Stewart of Anderson, Alabama and Second Place- Callie Doerfel of Murfreesboro

Beginner Mandolin sponsored by Luton’s Media: First Place-Stephen Stewart of Monterey, Second Place- Silas Pegg of Gallatin, and Third Place- Kade Stewart of Anderson, Alabama

Beginner Five String Banjo sponsored by Risher Roofing: First Place- Callie Doerfel of Murfreesboro; Second Place- Immanuel Roberts of Fort Payne , Alabama, and Third Place- Kade Stewart of Anderson, Alabama

Beginner Flat Top Guitar sponsored by The Vintage Owl: First Place- Immanuel Roberts of Fort Payne, Alabama; Second Place- Callie Doerfel of Murfreesboro, and Third Place- Regan Ray of Bloomington.
For more about the Fiddlers’ Jamboree including the weekend events from the festival click the links below

http://smithvillejamboree.com/

http://smithvillejamboree.com/scheduleEvents.html

July 6, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Visitors from places like Memphis, California, and Canada are in town this weekend for the 53rd Annual Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival and a few of them were recognized during Friday night’s welcoming ceremony.

After the introductions of several local public officials and community leaders, Congressman John Rose’s Chief of Staff Van Hilleary, State Senator Janice Bowling, and State Representative Michael Hale presented Tennessee and United States flags to persons who came from the longest distances to get here.

On behalf of Congressman Rose, who was unable to attend the festival, Hilleary greeted Katie Rowe and Amina Deiab of Edmonton Alberta Canada. State Senator Bowling presented a flag to Jeremiah Ledda of Los Angeles California, retired from the US Navy while State Representative Hale had a flag for Roger Wolfe of Memphis.

The first day of the Fiddler’s Jamboree started after a rain delay of more than an hour Friday morning but after the weather cleared the program continued non-stop until the final awards of the day were presented at 12:30 a.m. this morning (Saturday).

The opening ceremony at 6 p.m. began with a prayer by State Representative Michael Hale and a performance of the National Anthem by a fiddler as two members of the Smithville Fire Department posted colors.

The Smithville Community Chorus later took the stage delivering a stirring patriotic performance.

Later in the evening, the Jamboree audience was treated to an hour-long performance of Cutter & Cash & The Kentucky Grass, Members of the band include Noah Goebel (reigning Smithville Jamboree Fiddle off winner) along with his sister, Lily Goebel Reigning Smithville Jamboree Old Time Appalachian Folk Singing – Solo), Brennen Cruce, Cutter Singelton, and Cash Singelton.

The preliminaries and finals were held in each of the sixteen categories of music and dance competition

The following are the Friday winners:

*Old Time Appalachian Folk Singing (Solo)- sponsored by Hywater Title:
First Place-Lily Goebel of Elkton, Kentucky
Second Place- Larry Chunn of Greenbrier
Third Place-Sarah Cripps of Smithville

*Junior Clogging (Ages 13-39)-sponsored by Hidden Harbor Marina:
First Place- Jacob Fennell of Dickson
Second Place-Gary Giles of Franklin
Third Place-Trebel Chunn of Greenbrier

*Junior Buck Dancing (Ages 13-39)-sponsored by Gammon, Drueck & Watson CPAs:
First Place- Jacob Fennell of Dickson
Second Place- Trebel Chunn of Greenbrier
Third Place-Jamie Hash of Walland

*Old Time Appalachian Folksinging (Duet, Trio, Quartet)-sponsored by Hutchins Auto Sales
First Place- Branum Twins of Rockvale
Second Place-Marshall Murphy of Knoxville

*Dobro Guitar-sponsored by Evins Mill Retreat & Resort:
First Place-Joey Gipson of Manchester
Second Place-Tyler Andal of Nashville
Third Place-Robbie Harris of Rockvale

*Mountain Dulcimer-sponsored by Fluty’s:
First Place-Tyler Andal of Nashville
Second Place-Rob Pearcy of Smyrna
Third Place-Eric Cameron of Adairville, Kentucky

*Hammer Dulcimer- sponsored by Kilgore’s Restaurant:
First Place-Nicole Tressler of Madison, Alabama
Second Place-Lisa Tressler of Madison, Alabama

*Novelty Event-sponsored by Center Hill Realty:
First Place- Steve Holladay of Holladay, Tennessee
Second Place-The Tiny Rice Unit of Rockvale
Third Place-Two Dave’s & Two Tall of Brush Creek

*Autoharp-sponsored by The Purple Door:
First Place- Bill Rothe of Estill Springs
Second Place-Pamela Sanders of Sparta
Third Place-Evie Waddell of Madison, Alabama

*Gospel Singing (Solo)-sponsored by DeKalb County Florist:
First Place-Lily Goebel of Elkton, Kentucky
Second Place- Larry Chunn of Greenbrier
Third Place-Angelica Branum of Murfreesboro

*Country Harmonica-sponsored by Hohner Harmonica:
First Place- Terry Bartlett of Gallatin
Second Place- Rob Pearcy of Smyrna
Third Place-Tyler Martelli of Chattanooga

*Old Time Banjo-sponsored by Hyundai of Cookeville:
First Place-Tyler Andal of Nashville
Second Place-Daniel Rothwell of Smyrna
Third Place- Conner Derryberry of Shelbyville

*Youth Square Dancing- sponsored by Ranger Brake:
First Place- Tennessee Rhythm of Greenbrier
Second Place-DeKalb Dancin’ Delights of Smithville
Third Place- Harpeth River of Franklin

*Gospel Singing (Duet, Trio, & Quartet)-sponsored by State Representative Michael Hale:
First Place-Branum Twins of Rockvale
Second Place-The Mooneyham Family of Spencer
Third Place-Bowman & Ealey of Cookeville

*Mandolin- sponsored by DeKalb Title:
First Place-Tyler Andal of Nashville
Second Place-Noah Goebel of Elkton, Kentucky
Third Place- Rob Pearcy of Smyrna

*Old Time Fiddle Band- sponsored by the Tennessee Entertainment Commission:
First Place-The Slim Chance Band of Smyrna
Second Place-The Clarence Carter Family of Rockvale
Third Place- Muddy Branch Layabouts of Manchester

For more about the Fiddlers’ Jamboree including the weekend events from the festival click the links below

http://smithvillejamboree.com/

http://smithvillejamboree.com/scheduleEvents.html

July 5, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Ready to Jam?

The Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival begins today marking the 53rd year for one of Tennessee’s most favorite summer events. Thousands are expected to brave the heat and possible rain to take in all the sights and sounds of the music and dancing featured on stage as well as the shade tree picking around the courthouse lawn. For craft lovers, there will also be plenty to experience as streets surrounding the public square will be lined with booths displaying lots of handmade crafts. Of course, you won’t go hungry either as several food booths are set up on both the north and south sides of the square.

The Community Chorus headlined a Jamboree celebration kick-off patriotic program Thursday evening at Evins Park downtown joined by five-square dance teams, Smithville Select, DeKalb Dancin’ Delights, Center Hill Hoedown, Ragland Bottom Roundup, and Caney Fork Circle Eights led by Mary Ann Puckett.

Today’s program kicks off at 9 a.m. and will continue non-stop, except for any rain delays, until the winners in today’s categories are decided. The community chorus will be featured on stage during the festival’s welcoming ceremonies around 6 p.m. following remarks by local and state dignitaries.

WJLE AM 1480/FM 101.7 will have LIVE radio coverage from the stage all day today and Saturday starting at 9 a.m. and TV viewers can watch on several DTC platforms

For more about the Fiddlers’ Jamboree including the weekend events from the festival click the links below

http://smithvillejamboree.com/

http://smithvillejamboree.com/scheduleEvents.html

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