Tylar Andal of Nashville Claims Jamboree Grand Champion Fiddling Title

July 7, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Tyler Andal’s big weekend!

The Nashville fiddler took home a total of seven awards from the 53rd annual Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival over the weekend including the biggest prize, the Berry C. Williams Memorial for claiming the Grand Champion Fiddling Title.

As the 2024 Grand Fiddle Off Champion, Andal will be invited by the Grand Ole Opry to play a ‘fiddle tune’ for the Opry square dancers’ LIVE performance during a selected show. The Opry has partnered with the Smithville Jamboree since 2022 to offer this exciting opportunity to the fiddle champion, as a way to honor the tradition and talent of country music fiddlers.

Darrin Vincent, member of the Grand Ole Opry’s award-winning group Dailey & Vincent, presented the award to Andal at the conclusion of the festival which ended at 11 p.m. Saturday night.

By winning the Junior fiddling contest, Andal edged out two other competitors for a right to advance to the fiddle-off and he out fiddled the senior winner Heather Brown Curry, another past Fiddler’s Jamboree Grand Champion.

This is the 13th year in a row (not counting the 2020 virtual jamboree) that a Junior Fiddler has beaten the Senior Fiddler for the Grand Championship of the Festival.

In addition to the Grand Champion Fiddling Title, Andal’s list of awards for the weekend included First Place for Junior Fiddling, Flat Top Guitar, Contest Fiddle (The Neil Dudney Memorial Award), Old Time Banjo, and Mandolin, and Second Place in the Dobro Guitar event.

Winners in the Saturday session of the Fiddler’s Jamboree are as follows:

Junior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages up to 39)-sponsored by Apex Contracting Services: First Place- Jacob Fennell of Dickson; Second Place- Colleena Ralston of Lebanon; and Third Place Keith Symanowitz of Mountain View, Arkansas

Senior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages 40 & Over)-sponsored by DeKalb County Farm Bureau: First Place- Anthony Harrell of Mount Juliet; Second Place- Tammy Scruggs of Lebanon; and Third Place-Danny Campbell of Murfreesboro

Senior Buck Dancing (Ages 40 & Over)-sponsored by DeKalb County Florist: First Place-Jason Wade of Paris, Tennessee; Second Place-Anthony Harrell of Mount Juliet; and Third Place- Danny Campbell of Murfreesboro

Senior Clogging (Ages 40 & Over)-sponsored by Attorney Gayla Hendrix: First Place-Heather Brown Curry of Springfield; Second Place-Jason Wade of Paris, Tennessee; and Third Place- Anthony Harrell of Mount Juliet

Duo Clogging-sponsored by Curtis Supply: First Place- Foster and Hash of Cookeville; Second Place- Patterson and Clark of Orlinda; and Third Place-Ralston and Street of Lebanon.

Bluegrass Banjo-sponsored by Deering Banjo: First Place-Joey Gipson of Manchester; Second Place- Weston Stewart of Anderson, Alabama; and Third Place-Derek Stone of Chattanooga

Junior Fiddlers (Ages 13-39): First Place-Tyler Andal of Nashville; Second Place- Trenton Caruthers of Cookeville; and Third Place-Eric Cameron of Adairville, Kentucky

Flat Top Guitar-sponsored by the Arts Garage: First Place- Tyler Andal of Nashville; Second Place-Rob Pearcy of Smyrna; and Third Place-Nick Norris of Denton, Texas

Contest Fiddle (Neil Dudney Memorial Award)-sponsored by the Dudney Family: First Place- Tyler Andal of Nashville; Second Place-Bonnie Norris of Denton, Texas; and Third Place- Kadence Edington of Nashville. The Neil Dudney Award was presented to Andal by Dudney’s daughter Janet England, two of his grandchildren, Ethan and Brandon Shaw, great grandson Carson Shaw and great granddaughter Addah. Dudney, who passed away in October 2018 served as President and Coordinator of the Fiddlers Jamboree for 16 years until he stepped down in 2008.

Bluegrass Band- sponsored by the Male Room Brotique: First Place- The Unofficial Smithville Fiddlers of Smithville; Second Place-Flatt Earthers of Rockvale; and Third Place- The Radio Boys of Cookeville

Senior Fiddlers (Ages 40 & Over)- sponsored by the Smithville Review: First Place- Heather Brown Curry of Springfield; Second Place-Bonnie Norris of Denton, Texas; and Third Place Tony Haley of Mount Juliet

Square Dancing-Sponsored by DTC Communications: First Place-Jackson Hollow of Franklin; Second Place- Tennessee Dance Alliance of Mount Juliet; and Third Place- Smithville Select of Smithville.

Fiddle-off Champion (Berry C. Williams Award)- sponsored by the Williams Family: Tyler Andal of Nashville

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

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