Louisiana State Fiddle Championship

The Louisiana Folklife Center has been monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic very closely, and has postponed making a decision about the 2020 Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival in hopes that the situation would improve. However, it is with a great deal of sadness that unfortunately this year’s Festival, including the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship, will not be able to be held. We have high hopes that we will have a wonderful musical reunion at next year’s Festival in July 2021.

The purpose of the Louisiana State Fiddlers’ Championship (LSFC) is to perpetuate the traditional music and styles of fiddling integral to many kinds of Louisiana music, to help develop an appreciation and understanding of traditional music, to encourage young fiddlers to pursue musical endeavors, and to encourage jam sessions and contests as a way to promote creativity and the continuation of the fiddle tradition.

2019 Louisiana State Fiddle Championship Winners

Championship Round

1st Grand Champion: Ron Yule

2nd Place: Joe Suchanek

3rd Place: Owen Meche

Twin Fiddles Competition

1st Place Tie: Wilfred Luttrell and Ron Yule

1st Round: Ages 0-21

1st Place: Owen Meche

1st Round: Ages 60+

1st Place: Joes Suchanek

2nd Place: Ron Yule

3rd Place: Birgit Murphy

4th Place: Mark Young

5th Place: Wilfred Luttrell

6th Place: Ron Pace

For more information, contact us at folklife@nsula.edu or (318) 357-4332

Prather coliseum and CAPA Annex/Magale Recital Hall are wheelchair accessible.

Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival Venue/LA State Fiddle Championship

Grand Champions

(2004—present)

2004 Lauren Hodges – Ragley, LA (17 years old)

2005 Ben Robinson – Choudrant, LA (19 years old)

2006 Emily Young – DeRidder, LA (19 years old)

2007 Vic Middleton – Homer, LA (29 years old)

2008 Hallie Yarbrough – Bastrop, LA (41 years old)

2009 Ben Robinson – Choudrant, LA (23 years old)

2010 Jason Saucer – West Monroe, LA (33 years old)

2011 Lauren Ford- Monroe, LA (17 years old)

2012 Beau Thomas -Abbeville, LA (39 years old)

2013 Thomas Jenkins – Bush, LA (29 years old)

2014 Carson Taylor – West Monroe, LA (12 years old)

2015 James Linden Hogg – Prairieville, LA (15 years old)

2016 Joanna Calhoun – West Monroe, LA (17 years old)

2017 Joe Suchanek — Fields, LA (60 years old)

2018 Clancey Stewart — Florien, LA (20 years old)

2019 Ron Yule — DeRidder, LA (76 years old)

Louisiana State Fiddle Championship/Rebel State Historic Site Venue

Grand Champions

1970 Thomas Ray Beebe

1971 Tex Grimsley

1972 Charlie Walding

1973 Hank Strickland

1974 Bob Henderson

1975 Ken Smith

1976 Jamesette Kile

1977 Jewels Lasyone

1978 Jewels Lasyone

1979 Scarlett Johnson

1980 Ken Smith

1981 Greg Edwards

1982 Louis Darby

1983 Ken Smith

1984 Chuck Nation

1985 Johnny Johnson

1986*

1987*

1988 Mary Grimsley

1989 Curry Perkins

1990 Ken Smith

1991 Fred Beavers

1992 Curry Perkins

1993 Ken Smith

1994 Bill Grass

1995 John Johnson

1996 Amanda Dark

1997 T-Bo Lairscey

1998 Britton Currie

1999 Curry Perkins

2000 Ron Yule

2001 Jamesette Kile

2002 Dallas Cooley

2003 Fred Beavers

* The winners for 1986 and 1987 are missing from the plaque.
List provided by Stacy Cates, Interpretive Ranger at Rebel State Historic Site in Marthaville, LA on June 15, 2010.
Phone: 1-888-677-3600 · email: rebel@crt.state.la.us