Louisiana Folklife

Louisiana State Fiddle Championship2024-07-26T12:09:19-06:00

Louisiana State Fiddle Championship

July 20, 2024

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.

2024 Louisiana State Fiddle Championship Winners

Championship Round

1st Place: Joe Suchanek
2nd Place: Ben Robinson
3rd Place: Clancey Stewart

Twin Fiddles Competition

1st Place: Clancey Stewart & Joe Suchanek
2nd Place: Ben Robinson & Ron Yule
3rd Place: Samuel O’Kelley & Sarah O’Kelley

First Round Championship

Ages 0-21

1st Place: Samuel O’Kelley
2nd Place: Asher Hotard
3rd Place: Ruth Hotard

Ages 22-59

1st Place: Ben Robinson
2nd Place: Clancey Stewart

Ages 60+

1st Place: Joe Suchanek
2nd Place: Ron Yule
3rd Place: Phillip Mayo

Non-Championship Round

1st Place: Sarah O’Kelley
2nd Place: Dorothy Livingston

Wheelchair Accessible

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

2023 Louisiana State Fiddle Championship Winners

Championship Round

1st Place: Curry Perkins
2nd Place: Clancey Stewart
3rd Place: Joe Suchanek

Twin Fiddles Competition

1st Place: Clancey Stewart & Joe Suchanek

First Round Championship

Ages 22-59

1st Place: Clancey Stewart
2nd Place: Curry Perkins

Ages 60+

1st Place: Joe Suchanek
2nd Place: Ron Pace

Supported in part by grants and donors:

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)

2022  Mary Harris — Breaux Bridge, LA (17 years old)

2023 Curry Perkins — Ragley, LA (53 years old)

2024 Joe Suchanek — Fields, LA (67 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 Championship was not held during 1986 and 1987.
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

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