Monte Gaylord from Nowata, Okla., was named the 2023 “Tennessee Valley Fiddle Champion” at the 56th annual Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention held at Athens State University on Saturday night. As the top fiddler, Gaylord not only won the title of Alabama State Fiddle Champion but also the Convention’s top prize of $2,000.

Katrina Nicolayeff from Meridian, Idaho, who was the 2022 Fiddle Champion, finished runner-up.

Athens’ own Flatt Rock Station took home first place in the Bluegrass Band competition.

Other first place winners and local winners are as follows.

Harmonica- Rob Pearcy, Smyrna, Tenn.

Mandolin- Joel Whittinghill, Bowling Green, Ky.

Bluegrass Banjo- Alex Davis, Manchester, Tenn.

Dobro- Steven Smiley, Moulton, Ala.

Dulcimer- Rob Pearcy, Smyrna, Tenn.; Lou Todd (second place) Athens; Jerry Todd (sixth place) Athens; Roger Patterson (seventh place), Athens; Lisa Tressler (eighth place) Madison

Old Time Singing- Reed Stutz, Nashville, Tn.

Beginner Fiddler- Lily Coleman, Birmingham, Ala.; Esther Elwood (second place) Madison, Ala.

Apprentice Fiddler- Jonathan Ward, Tullahoma, Tenn.; Ty McMeans (fourth place) Athens; Ivy Bahro (fifth place) Athens; Jake Atherton (sixth place) Anderson

Guitar Finger Picking- Josh Taylor, Madison, Ala.

Guitar Flat Picking- Justin Koch, Pensacola, Fl.; Ty McMeans (seventh place) Athens

Beginner guitar- Phillip Elwood, Madison, Ala.; Jake Atherton (third place) Anderson

Beginner Mandolin- Stephen Elwood, Madison, Ala.; Jake Atherton (fifth place) Anderson

Beginner Banjo- Piper Faulker, Hokes Bluff, Ala.; Avonlea Bahro (fifth place) Athens; Jake Atherton (seventh place) Anderson; Mason Wright (eighth place) Harvest

Appalachian Buck Dancing- Arlee Fowlkes, Hurricane Mills, Tn.; Brianne Hargrove (fourth place) Athens; Ruth Seibert (sixth place) Ardmore; Darbey Gough (seventh place) Athens

Old Time Banjo- Carter Laney, Birmingham, Ala.

Classic Old Time Fiddler- Tyler Andal, Nashville, Tn

Senior Fiddler- Sharon Bounds, Northport, Ala.

Old Time String Band- Tennessee Hill Buddies, Elizabethton, Tn.; Flat Creek Stringband (sixth place) Athens, Ala.

The Convention contributes to Athens State by funding student scholarships and University projects. This project was made possible in part by a grant from the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area.

Music fans are encouraged to save the date for the 57th annual Fiddlers Convention, which will be held Thursday, Oct. 3, through Saturday, Oct. 5, in 2024.