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4:3
WESTERN OPEN JUDGES
CONTACT US: Mailing Address: PO Box 101, Red Bluff CA 96080 Phone: (530) 527-6127 Fax: (530) 528-0431 MAP to the Red Bluff Elks Lodge
Edward L. Ed" Carnes was born and grew up in Leitchfield, Kentucky, the son of Freddie and Ida Cames. Ed graduated high school as co-valedictorian of his class, with a perfect 4.0 GPA. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Wester Kentucky University, majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Business Administration and earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree (summa cum laude) from the University of Texas at Dallas. Ed has played the fiddle as a hobby since 1976. He began playing as a charter member of the Grayson County school or - chestra in 1974 in his hometown of Leitchfield, KY and learned to play fiddle with several other students who also became champion fiddlers. Along the way, Ed has won fiddle championships in 5 states - KY, IN, TN, AL, OH, and placed as high as Runner- Up in the Grand Master Fiddler Championship. He has won numerous other championships, such as the Mid-America Championship (5 times), Empire State Championship, Western KY Championship, Texas OTFA Out of State Champion (2 times) and many others. Ed has fiddled all over the US, and also in Canada. An accomplished and NOTFA Qualified fiddle judge, Ed has judged the KY, TN, AL, IN, and TX State Championships, the U.S. National Contest in Weiser ID, the Western Open Contest in Red Bluff, CA, and many other contests. Ed has two solo recordings of his music available, has been featured on several fiddling collections, and has appeared on the WSM Grand Ole Opry numerous times. Ed is an organizer and co-founder of the Grand Master Fiddler Championship, one of the most prestigious fiddling competitions in the world. He serves as Vice-Chairman on its Board of Directors, directs the competition, and was the key driver in establishing it as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit char-ity. Ed also helped found and directs the Twin Lakes National Fiddler Championship, a Nationally Certified contest, and helped get his hometown of Leitchfield named "The Fiddling Capital of Kentucky" by the State of Kentucky. Ed worked with the Bluegrass Music Museum and Hall of Fame to re-establish the Kentucky State Fiddle Championship contest and serves as its contest coordinator. Additionally, Ed provides technology support for the Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association. Ed makes his career as an Information Technology Executive, working for such companies as EDS, Perot Systems, NCR, Dell, Sony Music Pub-lishing, and currently serves as Vice- President of Global Information Technology for Round Hill Music. He also founded his own Microsoft Technology Consulting company and a Managed Services Provider company along the way. Ed has two sons, Jared, and Jason, two stepsons, six stepdaughters, and is married to Jennifer. They make their home in Franklin, TN.
Edward L. Ed" Carnes
I have been attending fiddle contests for over 60 years. Initially, I began playing the guitar, and by the age of 9, 1 won my first national accompanist division title against adults. I won the national accompanist division for the next decade in the 1960's and 70's. I played guitar for thousands of fiddlers over the years, including many of the old fiddle masters, and national champions, like Benny Thomasson, Dick Barrett, and Herman Johnson. As a child, I would spend a large portion of my summers staying, and traveling, with Dick Barrett, and his family. In fact, you can see me playing with Benny and Dick while we were on tour on YouTube in a series from the mid - 1970's titled, "Texas Fiddle Legends." I also played for 5 time undefeated National Champion, Herman Johnson, at the National Oldtime Fiddling Contest (NOTFC), and on his album titled, "Simply Perfect." I also video-recorded Herman playing all of his songs in his kitchen which can be found on Vi Wickam's fiddling website. As my musical journey continued, I also learned how to play the fiddle. I have judged countless fiddle contests. I Aaron Lowe have judged the NOTFC several times. The first time I judged the NOTFC, in the mid- 1970's, I was youngest judge at that time to have ever judge this national contest. More recently, I am the former NW Regional Open Champion, Texas State Sr. Champion, NW Regional Sr. Champion (multiple times), and National Sr. Champion (multiple times). My hobbies in cluding working on, building, fiddles and guitars. I have also made several unique fiddle, and guitar, cases. I have related several stories about fiddling in the old days in my blog on Facebook titled, "Musings from the Fiddling Road." I have also written a number of articles, and transcribed a number of tunes, that have been published in Fiddler Magazine. My philosophy of judging is fairly straight forward. What I try to do when I judge a fiddle contest is first determine how difficult of a tune the contestant is playing, and next I determine how well is the contestant playing their songs. Based upon those primary factors, that is how I determine an overall score for each song. I try to give extra points for those contestants who make a song their own by adding additional appropriate phrases, harmonies, or parts, to their songs. At the contests that I have attended this year, I won the Senior division of the NW Regional Contest again, I judged the Texas state contest, and I also judged at the NOTFC again. I am a retired attorney.
Aaron Lowe
The first female "Buckaroo" in Buck Owens' band. Jana went on to fame as the "First Lady of Country Fiddle" on Hee Haw. She continues to tour and perform, and founded the American Heritage Music Festival, part of Grand Lake Festivals, Inc. She was inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame, the National Western Swing Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, the National Fiddler Hall of Fame, and received the Governor's Arts Award in Okla-homa. Please visit Jana Jae at www.janajae.com for further info. "Granddad started me fiddling in Idaho when I was two, and it has become my language, my career, and my life. In turn, I love to introduce folks of all ages to fiddling through my performances, festivals and fiddle camp. The National Fiddler Hall of Fame and Grand Lake Festivals projects strengthen these efforts and provides a wonderful source of information for all. "I am so proud to be returning to California where my professional career really began, and I am thrilled to be a judge at the Western Open! This is so meaningful to me and it's very exciting to see the success Tex and Sharon have had nurturing this major contest over the years. I can't wait to hear all the great fiddling!"
Jana Jae
Eliza started Fiddle at age 4. She is known for her amazing tone and vibrato. She has won first place in 14 State and Regional Certified Fiddle Contests. She has also placed in individual, swing and twin fiddle divisions at national competitions. Eliza was awarded Fanciest Fiddler for 2022 and best Costume at the National Old-time Fiddle Contest. She has trained with fiddle champions Matthew Hartz and Tashina Clarridge. Eliza starting backing up her family band on guitar 10 years ago. She especially loves flatpicking. Fiddle Express - The Beck Family Band has two albums "Rubber Dolly" and "In the Mood" on all the major music plat-fors. They are almost done with recording their third album. You can find Eliza busking at farners' markets, performing at bluegrass festivals and playing for major fundraising events in the Treasure Valley. She also has a thriving music studio where she teaches fiddle and guitar. Eliza has traveled to Guatemala 3 times for a music service mission where she taught local school children Ukulele with the World Ukulele Project. She is also a principal violinist in the Boise Philharmonics Symphonic Youth Orchestra.
Eliza Beck
From bluegrass and jazz to rock & roll and old-time fiddle, Vi the Fiddler exudes energy, passion, humor, and musical mastery in every performance. Vi Wickam is an accomplished solo performer and also fronts his own band, cleverly named Vi Wickam and The Band. In addition, he's a member of Fritto Misto, and Fiddle Whamdiddle. The latter's albums Old School Old Time and Not My Monkey were honored by inclusion on the Grammy Ballot in 2014 and 2016 respectively. In 2018, Vi had 2 albums chart in the top 5 of Folk DJ Radio. His album Armadillo on a Hot I in Roofhit #4 in April and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas hit #5 in Decem-ber. He's a 4- time Colorado State Fiddling Champion, a finalist at the Grand Masters' Fiddler championship, and Runner Up in the National Fiddle Contest. In addition to performing. Vi is a highly regarded music in-structor. He's a founder of the online music school my TalentForge.com and is much in demand as a teacher at music workshops and camps around the US.
VI Wickam
WESTERN OPEN JUDGES
CONTACT US: Mailing Address: PO Box 101, Red Bluff CA 96080 Phone: (530) 527-6127 Fax: (530) 528-0431 MAP to the Red Bluff Elks Lodge
Edward L. Ed" Carnes
Edward L. Ed" Carnes was born and grew up in Leitchfield, Kentucky, the son of Freddie and Ida Cames. Ed graduated high school as co-valedictorian of his class, with a perfect 4.0 GPA. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Wester Kentucky University, majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Business Administration and earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree (summa cum laude) from the University of Texas at Dallas. Ed has played the fiddle as a hobby since 1976. He began playing as a charter member of the Grayson County school or - chestra in 1974 in his hometown of Leitchfield, KY and learned to play fiddle with several other students who also became champion fiddlers. Along the way, Ed has won fiddle championships in 5 states - KY, IN, TN, AL, OH, and placed as high as Runner-Up in the Grand Master Fiddler Championship. He has won numerous other championships, such as the Mid-America Championship (5 times), Empire State Championship, Western KY Championship, Texas OTFA Out of State Champion (2 times) and many others. Ed has fiddled all over the US, and also in Canada. An accomplished and NOTFA Qualified fiddle judge, Ed has judged the KY, TN, AL, IN, and TX State Championships, the U.S. National Contest in Weiser ID, the Western Open Contest in Red Bluff, CA, and many other contests. Ed has two solo recordings of his music available, has been featured on several fiddling collections, and has appeared on the WSM Grand Ole Opry numerous times. Ed is an organizer and co-founder of the Grand Master Fiddler Championship, one of the most prestigious fiddling competitions in the world. He serves as Vice-Chairman on its Board of Directors, directs the competition, and was the key driver in establishing it as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit char-ity. Ed also helped found and directs the Twin Lakes National Fiddler Championship, a Nationally Certified contest, and helped get his hometown of Leitchfield named "The Fiddling Capital of Kentucky" by the State of Kentucky. Ed worked with the Bluegrass Music Museum and Hall of Fame to re-establish the Kentucky State Fiddle Championship contest and serves as its contest coordinator. Additionally, Ed provides technology support for the Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association. Ed makes his career as an Information Technology Executive, working for such companies as EDS, Perot Systems, NCR, Dell, Sony Music Pub-lishing, and currently serves as Vice-President of Global Information Technology for Round Hill Music. He also founded his own Microsoft Technology Consulting company and a Managed Services Provider company along the way. Ed has two sons, Jared, and Jason, two stepsons, six stepdaughters, and is married to Jennifer. They make their home in Franklin, TN.
I have been attending fiddle contests for over 60 years. Initially, I began playing the guitar, and by the age of 9, 1 won my first national accompanist division title against adults. I won the national accompanist division for the next decade in the 1960's and 70's. I played guitar for thousands of fiddlers over the years, including many of the old fiddle masters, and national champions, like Benny Thomasson, Dick Barrett, and Herman Johnson. As a child, I would spend a large portion of my summers staying, and traveling, with Dick Barrett, and his family. In fact, you can see me playing with Benny and Dick while we were on tour on YouTube in a series from the mid - 1970's titled, "Texas Fiddle Legends." I also played for 5 time undefeated National Champion, Herman Johnson, at the National Oldtime Fiddling Contest (NOTFC), and on his album titled, "Simply Perfect." I also video-recorded Herman playing all of his songs in his kitchen which can be found on Vi Wickam's fiddling website. As my musical journey continued, I also learned how to play the fiddle. I have judged countless fiddle contests. I Aaron Lowe have judged the NOTFC several times. The first time I judged the NOTFC, in the mid- 1970's, I was youngest judge at that time to have ever judge this national contest. More recently, I am the former NW Regional Open Champion, Texas State Sr. Champion, NW Regional Sr. Champion (multiple times), and National Sr. Champion (multiple times). My hobbies in cluding working on, building, fiddles and guitars. I have also made several unique fiddle, and guitar, cases. I have related several stories about fiddling in the old days in my blog on Facebook titled, "Musings from the Fiddling Road." I have also written a number of articles, and transcribed a number of tunes, that have been published in Fiddler Magazine. My philosophy of judging is fairly straight forward. What I try to do when I judge a fiddle contest is first determine how difficult of a tune the contestant is playing, and next I determine how well is the contestant playing their songs. Based upon those primary factors, that is how I determine an overall score for each song. I try to give extra points for those contestants who make a song their own by adding additional appropriate phrases, harmonies, or parts, to their songs. At the contests that I have attended this year, I won the Senior division of the NW Regional Contest again, I judged the Texas state contest, and I also judged at the NOTFC again. I am a retired attorney.
Aaron Lowe
The first female "Buckaroo" in Buck Owens' band. Jana went on to fame as the "First Lady of Country Fiddle" on Hee Haw. She continues to tour and perform, and founded the American Heritage Music Festival, part of Grand Lake Festivals, Inc. She was inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame, the National Western Swing Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, the National Fiddler Hall of Fame, and received the Governor's Arts Award in Okla-homa. Please visit Jana Jae at www.janajae.com for further info. "Granddad started me fiddling in Idaho when I was two, and it has become my language, my career, and my life. In turn, I love to introduce folks of all ages to fiddling through my performances, festivals and fiddle camp. The National Fiddler Hall of Fame and Grand Lake Festivals projects strengthen these efforts and provides a wonderful source of information for all. "I am so proud to be returning to California where my professional career really began, and I am thrilled to be a judge at the Western Open! This is so meaningful to me and it's very exciting to see the success Tex and Sharon have had nurturing this major contest over the years. I can't wait to hear all the great fiddling!"
Jana Jae
Eliza started Fiddle at age 4. She is known for her amazing tone and vibrato. She has won first place in 14 State and Regional Certified Fiddle Contests. She has also placed in individual, swing and twin fiddle divisions at national competitions. Eliza was awarded Fanciest Fiddler for 2022 and best Costume at the National Old-time Fiddle Contest. She has trained with fiddle champions Matthew Hartz and Tashina Clarridge. Eliza starting backing up her family band on guitar 10 years ago. She especially loves flatpicking. Fiddle Express - The Beck Family Band has two albums "Rubber Dolly" and "In the Mood" on all the major music plat-fors. They are almost done with recording their third album. You can find Eliza busking at farners' markets, performing at bluegrass festivals and playing for major fundraising events in the Treasure Valley. She also has a thriving music studio where she teaches fiddle and guitar. Eliza has traveled to Guatemala 3 times for a music service mission where she taught local school children Ukulele with the World Ukulele Project. She is also a principal violinist in the Boise Philharmonics Symphonic Youth Orchestra.
Eliza Beck
From bluegrass and jazz to rock & roll and old-time fiddle, Vi the Fiddler exudes energy, passion, humor, and musical mastery in every performance. Vi Wickam is an accomplished solo performer and also fronts his own band, cleverly named Vi Wickam and The Band. In addition, he's a member of Fritto Misto, and Fiddle Whamdiddle. The latter's albums Old School Old Time and Not My Monkey were honored by inclusion on the Grammy Ballot in 2014 and 2016 respectively. In 2018, Vi had 2 albums chart in the top 5 of Folk DJ Radio. His album Armadillo on a Hot I in Roofhit #4 in April and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas hit #5 in Decem-ber. He's a 4-time Colorado State Fiddling Champion, a finalist at the Grand Masters' Fiddler championship, and Runner Up in the National Fiddle Contest. In addition to performing. Vi is a highly regarded music in-structor. He's a founder of the online music school my TalentForge.com and is much in demand as a teacher at music workshops and camps around the US.
VI Wickam