Thursday, Friday, Saturday:  (Seniors, Senior Seniors, Young Adults, Grand Champion, and Twin Fiddling Round 2)

Katie Glassman discovered her love for fiddling at 9 years old.  She was the 1998 National Junior Champion and 2001 National Young Adult Champion, in 2002 she placed 5th in the Grand Champion Division. Katie has a Bachelor's in Music performance and was the 1st violinist to receive a Certificate in Jazz from the University of Colorado.  She continued her studies at Centre Musique Didier Lockwood in Dammarie-Les-Lys, France.  Katie performs in the Rocky Mountain Region with mandolin champion Charlie Provenza, Emmy Award winner David Williams, Gypsy jazz group Impromptu and various other projects.  The Fiddle Parlor is her music studio where she teaches private and group fiddle lessons.  Katie runs the Colorado based Fiddle-Tune-a-Month subscription series, which teaches beginner through intermediate level tunes with a fun and simple method.  For more information about instruction or performances go to: www.katieglassman.com

   
Judging philosophy:

The music: After growing up around the Texas Fiddling traditions, I have developed such a tremendous respect for the integrity of this tradition and its roots.  While there is so much merit to playing tunes in a perfect manor, I love listening to music.  A player who is truly playing music with spirit, personality, creativity and soulfulness will inspire me.  If you inspire me, you will get a higher score.  Of course, there are traditional standards which should always be respected, such as intonation, rhythmic feel, technique and stylistic language.  Play at your level, but with your own personality.  I want to hear who you are.  
    Tunes:  Play what you play the best.  It is the energy in what your play that I’m listening for, not how unique the tune is.  Without a doubt, 1 tune does get boring after 100 people have played it exactly the same.  So, how can you be unique with it?
    The contest:  As we all have experienced, contests can make our music feel very nervous, very contrived etc.  Please try to have a good time.  Play your best and make your round an enjoyable musical experience.