Thursday, Friday, Saturday:  (Seniors, Senior Seniors, Young Adults, Grand Champion, and Twin Fiddling Round 2)
 
Monique Ruwe is a fifth generation fiddle player from the Boise, Idaho area.  She started playing fiddle as a child, traveling with her family to bluegrass festivals all over the Eastern U.S.  After moving back to Idaho in the early 1980's, she learned the old time fiddling style of her grandfather (Marion Moore, oldest fiddler at Weiser in 2009).  As a teenager, she began taking lessons and competing in fiddle contests.  Her recent trophies include 2008 Idaho Open Adult Champion and 2nd place in the Adult division here last year.  She is a fiddle teacher and stay at home mom to three children (all of whom have competed here).  She and her husband Ruston enjoy performing with the band Out of Order.  Monique and a team of volunteers put on the Wild West Fiddle Contest and Show every July in the Kuna, Idaho park.  Information for the 2010 contest coming soon on our website. 
 
Judging philosophy:
 
Beyond the fundamentals of good fiddle playing (tone, rhythm/timing, intonation), I look for qualities that bring the tunes to life:  expression, creativity, drive, thoughtful use of vibrato.   Whether a tune is basic or complicated, I like to hear the player in control and confident.