We’ve just received the results from the 2015 Grand Masters Fiddler Championship, held September 26-27 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Looks like this story got lost in the preparations for the World of Bluegrass convention in Raleigh that next week. Oops!
This year’s top prize went to Aynsley Porchak, a young Ontario fiddler currently studying in the Bluegrass, Old Time, & Country Music program at East Tennessee State University. Aynsley is only the second Canadian fiddler to be named Grand Master, following Rudy Meeks who accepted the award in 1977. She received a winner’s plaque and a check for $1200.
Aynsley said that she played Dusty Miller, Gardenia Waltz, and Foolin’ Around in the first round, and Done Gone, Our Waltz, and Tune For Andy in the second.
“It is such a blessing to have won the Grand Masters Fiddler Championship. I am absolutely thrilled, as this has been a dream of mine for many years, and as the winner, I am very honored and grateful to be able to play at the Grand Ole Opry next year. A big thanks to all for their support!”
Here’s a list of the top finishers this year.
2015 Grand Master Fiddler Championship
- Aynsley Porchak
- Trustin Baker
- Eli Bishop
- Andrew Lin
- Doug Fleener
- Joel Whittinghill
- Billy Contreras
- Karissa Nugent
- Makaela Shippy
- Cara DiGiovanni
- Mark Ralph
- Matthew Lin
- Jacob Johnson
- Gene Banks
- Faith Nugent
- Noelle Nugent
2015 Grand Master Fiddler Traditional Championship
- Tyler Andal
- Clelia Stefanini
- Matt Brown
- Tiffany Boucher
- Brandon Godman
- Henry Barnes
- Wilhelmina Frankzerda
- Shannon Hunt
- Rafe Stefanini
- Mikaela Langley
2015 Grand Master Fiddler Youth Championship
- River Lee
- Diana Dawydchak
- Ivy Phillips
- Celeste Pena
- Savannah Shannon
- Benjamin Lin
- Sophie Pena
- Kate Ward
- Beth Davis
- Lanie Shippy
2015 Grand Master Fiddler Accompanist Championship
- Anthony Mature
- Paul Kramer
- Robert Shafer
- Jim French
- Jim Reina
