Fiddle Contest

Traditional Arts Indiana sponsors a fiddle contest at the Indiana State Fair to promote the traditional music practices of Indiana and to bring people together to hear some toe-tapping fiddle tunes.

With participants ranging from all ages, the fiddle contest brings the music community together to celebrate the different talents and various styles of fiddlers around our state.

Traditional Arts Indiana is a partnership of the Indiana Arts Commission and Indiana University, dedicated to expanding public awareness and promoting Indiana’s traditional arts. The Indiana State Fair is proud to offer the Fiddle Contest in conjunction with Traditional Arts Indiana.

Past Winners

2019

11 & Under Division: Hadyn Newman

12-17 Division: Gracie Mae Grossman

18-59 Division: Lauren Williams (Greentown, IN)

60 & Above: Leo Hickman

Special Old Time Fiddling Award: Archie Krout (Crawfordsville, IN)

2018

12-17 Division: Leah Sawyer (Weatherford, TX)

18-59 Division: Robert Griepentrog (Westfield, IN)

60 & Above: Alan Frodge (Crawfordsville, IN)

Special Old Time Fiddling Award: David Sawyer (Weatherford, TX)

2017

11 & Under Division: Halle Newman (Clinton, IN)

12-17 Division: Leah Sawyer (Weatherford, TX)

18-59 Division: Lauren Williams (Greentown, IN)

60 & Above: Stephen Dickey (Paoli, IN)

Special Old Time Fiddling Award: Stephen Dickey (Paoli, IN)

2016

11 & Under Division: Halle Newman (Clinton, IN)

12-17 Division: Gracey West

18-59 Division: Joel Slack

60 & Above: Archie Krout (Crawfordsville, IN)

Special Old Time Fiddling Award: Archie Krout (Crawfordsville, IN)

2015

11 & Under Division: Rebecca Gilliher 

12-17 Division: Nicholaus Griesemer

18-59 Division: Shoshannah Ragan

60 & Above: Edward V. Posner

Special Old Time Fiddling Award: Edward V. Posner

2014

11 & Under Division: Eli Taylor

12-17 Division: Klaus Griesemer

18-59 Division: Miya Saito-Beckman

60 & Above: Susan Slack

Special Old Time Fiddling Award: Archie Krout (Crawfordsville, IN)

2013

11 & Under Division: Lily Kostraba (West Lafayette)

12-17 Division: Grant Flick (Bowling Green, OH)

18-59 Division: Doug Fleener (Leitchfield, KY)

60 & Above: Ed Cosner Sr. (Portage)

2012

11 & Under Division: Annabelle Watts

12-17 Division: Samantha Cunningham

18-59 Division: Doug Fleener (Leitchfield, KY)

60 & Above Division: Harold Klosterkemper (Greenburg, IN)

2011
11& Under Division: Ruth Kelley (Greenwood, IN)

12-17 Division: Grant Flick (Bowling Green, OH)

18-59 Division: Kerry Varble (Toledo, OH)

60 & Above Division: Harold Klosterkemper (Greensburg)

Special Old Time Fiddling Award: Harold Klosterkemper (Greensburg)

2010

11& Under Division: Connor McCracken (Fredericksburg, IN)

12-17 Division: Cole McCracken (Fredericksburg, IN)

18-59 Division: Doug Fleener (Leitchfield, KY)

60 & Above Division: Ed Cosner, Sr. (Portage, IN)

Special Old Time Fiddling Award: Harold Klosterkemper (Greensburg)

2009
11& Under Division: Connor McCracken (Fredericksburg, IN)

12-17 Division: Cole McCracken (Fredericksburg, IN)

18-59 Division: Kerry Varble (Toledo, OH)

Special Old Time Fiddling Award: Harold Klosterkemper (Greensburg)

2008
11& Under Division: Liam Perlstein (Morton Grove, IL)
Cole and Connor McCracken (Fredericksburg, IN)

12-17 Division: Doug Fleener (KY)
Emily Wagner
Marushka Grogan

18-59 Division: Andy Houck  (Newburgh, Indiana)

Special Old Time Fiddling Award: Luther Hampton

2007

2006
18-59 Division: Julane Lund

Special Old Time Fiddling Award: Harold Klosterkemper (Greensburg)

2005
11& Under Division: Kathleen Doolittle (Highland)

12-17 Division: Olivia Smiley (Greensburg)

18-59 Division: Vi Wickham (Evansville, IN)

Special Old Time Fiddling Award: Harold Klosterkemper (Greensburg)

2004
Special Old Time Fiddling Award: Vi Wickam (Evansville, IN)