BATON ROUGE – Attendees at the Louisiana Folklife Center program “Fiddlin’ with the Finest! A Celebration of Louisiana Folk Fiddling” on June 13 at the LSU Rural Life Museum in Baton Rouge were treated to a performance of fiddle musical artistry.
Several musicians participated, including two Louisiana State Fiddle Champions — Clancey Stewart (2018) and Joe Suchanek (2017 and 2024) — as well as accomplished fiddler Gina Forsyth. Dr. Shane Rasmussen, director of the Louisiana Folklife Center and professor of English at Northwestern State University, coordinated the event, which included a discussion of various aspects of the tradition and a Q&A with the audience. Live music throughout the program included examples of fiddle styles as well as a demonstration of triple fiddling. Stewart also displayed her skill at traditional clogging or flat foot dancing and Forsyth played fiddle sticks on Stewart’s fiddle while Stewart played.
The well-attended program was a prelude to the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship, which will be part of the 46th annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival to be held on the Northwestern State University campus on July 18. The Fiddle Championship will be held at 1 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Fiddlers may compete in the championship or non-championship, as well as in the twin fiddle category. Registration is at noon in the first-floor foyer outside Magale Recital Hall. The Fiddle Championship winner will perform on the main stage in Prather Coliseum at 5 p.m.
“The music performed at events like this one remind us how vital and vibrant Louisiana’s folk music can be,” said Rasmussen. “The Louisiana State Fiddle Championship provides important opportunities for fiddlers young and old to have fun while at the same time meet with peers, make new friends and showcase their talent. When folklife is alive and well people are happier, because our traditions give meaning to our lives as individuals and as a community.”
The event was hosted by the LSU Rural Life Museum and sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern. Support for the festival is provided by grants from the Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc., the Louisiana Division of the Arts Decentralized Arts Fund Program, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council and the State of Louisiana. The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the program did not necessarily represent those of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.
For information on pre-registering to compete in the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship, call the Louisiana Folklife Center at (318) 357-4332, email folklife@nsula.edu or go to https://www.nsula.edu/folklife/louisiana-state-fiddle-championship/.