Winfield--Steve Eulberg once again took 2nd place in the National Mountain Dulcimer Championship held in Winfield, Kansas, Sept. 15, 2006. Jeff Hames from Mississippi took home the National Champion prize and Joe Collins, from North Carolina, won 3rd place. Duane Porterfield and Tom Haver received placques for also reaching the final round.
Below is the Press Release from the festival:
For release on or after September 16, 2006
Walnut Valley Association
918 Main, Winfield, Kansas 67156
(620) 221-3250
Mountain Dulcimer Contest Completed
On Friday, morning September 15th the 35th Annual Walnut Valley Festival Mountain Dulcimer Contest got under way with 16 contestants. These individuals represented 11 different states and when the cut to five was made contestants from KS, CO (2), NC, and MS prevailed.
First place was awarded to Jeff Hames, an 18-year old high school student of Madison, MS. This was Jeff’s second time to enter this contest. He placed 3rd in 2005. Jeff started playing this instrument at the tender age of 10 and he also plays the clarinet and guitar. He placed in the New Songs Showcase in 2005. His grandfather gave him his first Mountain Dulcimer; in fact his grandfather built this one for him. At Madison Central High School, Jeff plays in the band. Jeff believes he has a first in history; his band director asked him to play mountain dulcimer in the marching band and when they played for the first time with Jeff playing his Mt. Dulcimer, the marching band stopped playing and it was up to him to carry on. He was thinking, “don’t stop now!†Jeff’s comment on the Festival is “it’s the best place to go for music.†The 1st Place Trophy, $150, and a KOA Custom Mountain Dulcimer model 4FHKK by McSpadden Dulcimers of Mountain View, AR were awarded to Jeff for his efforts.
A veteran of this competition, Steve Eulberg of Ft. Collins, CO placed 2nd in this contest. He has entered this contest 14 times and has placed 2nd three times and 3rd two times. Steve is a professional musician by trade and also a music educator who teaches at three separate music schools. He plays many instruments among them of course is the mountain dulcimer, the hammer dulcimer, the mandolin, the guitar and the didjeri doo. He enters two contests in addition to this one; the hammer dulcimer and the finger-pick guitar. He bought a Folkroots mt. dulcimer kit after being told this instrument was impossible to play. As it turns out this was not true because he has been playing this instrument for the past 26 years. Steve calls the Walnut Valley Festival “an amazing celebration of Americana and the International Family of Music.†When dot playing music he enjoys his wife, his children, his dog, his reading and his writing; and they are in that order, too. A Cherry/Redwood Special, model 6FHCRB Mt. Dulcimer by McSpadden Dulcimers of Mountain View, AR, the 2nd Place Trophy and $125 were the prizes he earned.
The third place trophy, $100 and a Ginger Cherry/Spruce model 4FGC5 Mt. Dulcimer by McSpadden Dulcimers of Mountain View, AR, went to Joe Collins of Shelby, NC. Joe too is a veteran of this contest. In 2003 and 2004 he placed third in this contest. Joe has been playing this instrument for 28 years. His first Mt. Dulcimer was a Father’s Day present from his family. Joe is a multi-talented individual; he is a pastor, he has his Doctorate in Education and he currently teaches religion at Gardner-Webb University of Boiling Springs, NC. Joe considers teaching Sunday School one of his favorite hobbies. And yes, he thinks he’ll be back again to compete in this contest.
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