Awards

NATIONAL CHAMPION - 2007

1st place Mountain Dulcimer - Mid-Eastern Regional Championship - 2005 & 2002

1st place Mountain Dulcimer Duet (w/ Gary Sager) - 2005

1st place Vocal - Coshocton Dulcimer Days - 2005 &2002

3rd place - National Mountain Dulcimer Championships - 2006, 2004 & 2003

1st place Mountain Dulcimer - Kentucky State Championship - 2003

1st place Dulcimer Duet (w/ Nancy Seifert) - Kentucky State Championship - 2003

2nd place Mountain Dulcimer Duet (w/ Alan Darveux) - Coshocton Dulcimer Days - 2002

1st place Folk Singing - Bryson City Fiddlers' Convention - 2001

2nd place Mountain Dulcimer - Bryson City Fiddlers' Convention - 2001

2nd place Mountain Dulcimer - Mid-Eastern Regional Championship - 2001

3rd place Mountain Dulcimer - Mid-Eastern Regional Championship - 2000

4th place Mountain Dulcimer - Southern Regional Championship - 2000

2nd place Ensemble (w/ Michael Shull) - Southern Regional Championship - 2000 & 1999

2nd place Dulcimer - Georgia State Championship - 2002, 2001, 2000, 1998

1st place Dulcimer - Brevard Old-Time Music Competition - 1998

Competitions are nerve-wracking, but worth the effort for me.  I find that preparation for them forces me to work on things that I normally wouldn't.  Talking to and playing with fellow competitors has taught me a lot about arranging and expanded my repertoire of techniques as well.  I recommend competitions to any dulcimer player who doesn't lose the fun of playing in competition and wants to sharpen his/her skills.  Winning is really nice, but the journey is what is most important.