Registration deadline Friday for UTC Fiddle Fest

String musicians interested in learning more about playing American folk music shouldn’t fiddle around, but get their registration in for Fiddle Fest, which is being held at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Saturday, Sept. 23.

UTC Fiddle Fest is a day- l ong workshop to learn about and play American f iddle tunes and folk music in an informal orchestra setting, Musicians will play arrangements by Ji m Wood.

“I am the Ruth Holmberg Professor of American Music at UTC, and as such I’m interested in expanding the kinds of American music we offer at the campus,” says Dr. Jonathan McNair. “I love folk music and I think it’s a legitimate thing for us to offer as a university.”

McNair says one of the purposes of Fiddle Fest is to give local people the opportunity to work with clinicians Jim Wood and John Boulware. The two award-winning fiddlers, along with guitarist Inge Wood, will lead the free festival.

“We are br i ngi ng excellent musicians — fiddle champions — here to work with community people from ninth grade to adults,” says McNair.

Participants will gather Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in the UTC Fine Arts Center, Roland Hayes Concert Hall, 752 Vine St. Rehearsal on fiddle music begins at 10 a.m.

The Festival will con- clude with a free public concert, conducted by Sandy Morris, at 5 p. m. in Roland Hayes Concert Hall. Informal dress is appropriate.

Fiddle Festa is open to violin, viola, cello, bass and guitar players at the intermediate to advanced levels. Any musician from ninth grade to adults may participate. Ability to read music fluently in the clef of your instrument is required due to the nature of the Festival music. Music is available on the Festival website.

Directors do not have to attend, but all outof- town students will need an adult chaperone on- site. Local students will need a chaperone accessible.

The deadline to register is 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22. To register: www.utcmusic.org.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Jim Wood has won more than 160 first prizes in folk music competitions, including at least seven fiddle championships. He holds 14 state championship titles on fiddle and mandolin (including Tennessee State Fiddle Champion five times) and was the...

John Boulware, from Kimball, Tenn., holds state championship titles in Tennessee and Alabama on fiddle and mandolin. In addition to the Tennessee Fiddle Ensemble, he records and performs with the Hamilton County Ramblers and has been guest soloist with...