Winners announced for Scott Street Five Strings Finals

2016 Scott Street Five String Finals winners: Tim Timberlake (contest coordinator), Taylor Parks, Madison Shepherd, Rachel Dunaway, Logan Redding, Johnny White, Uma Peters, Josh Bearman (judge), Sheila Kay Adams (judge), Richard Ward (judge)Fortunately, the weather cleared sufficiently on Saturday afternoon to hold the Scott Street Five Strings Finals in Richmond, VA during the Richmond Folk Festival. Three finalists had been chosen from video submissions in both bluegrass and clawhammer categories, who competed before judges including Josh Bearman, Sheila Kay Adams, and Richard Ward at the festival .

This new annual competition (in its second year) for banjo players under 18 serves as a tribute to Scott Street, whose generosity towards banjo players and bluegrass musicians in general was bound only by his lifespan, shortened by cancer. A highly successful attorney – he was a former President of the Virginia Bar Association – Scott was always ready to assist the musicians he cared about in any way he could, sharing his expertise and good fortune to help them stay on their feet. Scott was also active in JAM Inc, a Richmond organization that works to bring musical experiences to young people in the city schools.

And the 2016 winners are…

Bluegrass

  1. Logan Redding, age 16-  Pickens SC
  2. Taylor Parks, age 12 – Parksley VA
  3. Johnny White, age 14 – Richmond, VA

 

Clawhammer

  1. Madison Shepherd, age 16 – West Jefferson NC
  2. Uma Peters, age 9 – Nashville TN
  3. Rachel Dunaway, age 17 – Richmond VA

 

Winners in each division received a handsome custom trophy, a demo recording session at In Your Ear Studios and a $1000 cash prize. Runners up got $600, and $400 went to third place contestants.

Well done all!

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.