Butler Farm Show has talent

August 11, 2024 Last Updated: August 11, 2024 08:01 PM Local News

2024 Thomas Fiddle Contest continues tradition

Elizabeth Anderson, center, plays guitar while Olivia Anderson plays the fiddle during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show on Saturday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Lucian Mikush, 17, who plays the mandolin and violin, said he sees himself carrying on the bluegrass tradition.

The Pittsburgh teen played both instruments during the annual Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin and Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show on Sunday, Aug. 11, placing first in the teen fiddle division and second in the mandolin division. Lucian played with more than a dozen contestants Saturday, who ranged in age from young children to adults.

“I like a lot of the simplicity of folk music, and to fit into that simplicity, you kind of have to play one of these instruments,” Lucian said. “It's kind of interesting to see, like the American roots and kind of the music that's been around in this area for hundreds of years,” he said.

“With these tunes, they’ve changed over time, because a lot of it’s passed down orally,” he said. “So it’s like just one generation to the next — you get the music passed down. So they might have been playing the same name tune 200 years ago, but the actual notes have changed over that period of time.”

Contestants were judged across instrument divisions on rhythm, creativity, pitch and tone quality, with $700 in prize money being divvied up between them after points were tabulated. Those playing the fiddle competed in separate age groups. The songs were scored blindly as judges sat with their backs to the contestants, who were assigned numbers. Their names were announced at the beginning of the competition as a group.

“It really works by listening,” Don Rogers, one of the three judges, said about assigning scores on the basis of creativity. “Do they augment the tune? Does (the playing) take away from the tune?”

The competition has been a fixture at the Butler Farm Show since 1984, said contest coordinator Kim Thomas of Sigel, Pa.

“It’s just unique,” she said. “I mean, this is full bluegrass, whatever you want to call it — Appalachian. The fiddling has a lot of different styles. People might do bluegrass, they might do Texas swing, they might do old time.”

“I think it's just music that a lot of these people grew up with,” Thomas said. “You know, when you're sitting around with family and at family gatherings.”

Shay Dunkle, 17, a student of Thomas’ who has been playing the violin for six years, described the music as fun and upbeat. Dunkle won second place in the teen fiddle division.

At the end of the competition, Shay and the others joined on stage for a round of impromptu folk music, each taking turns leading and following the music with their respective instruments. Emily Anderson, of New Galilee, who won first place in the championship fiddle division, led much of the music, accompanying contestant Joe Faidley in a spontaneous duet.

“This music's been around here for hundreds of years, so it’s part of our heritage,” Thomas said. “And I think people grow up with it, and they’re familiar with it and they love it.”

Tim Cicotello, 69, of Johnstown, who competed in the banjo division, said he enjoys coming out to such events to support the next generation of musicians and community members.

The rock musician and guitarist didn’t take up the banjo until about 10 years ago, in the midst of a health crisis. Traveling from Pittsburgh after medical appointments for a kidney transplant, he stopped at a Guitar Center. There, he bought a $50 banjo.

“That’s really where it started, and it gave me something to do while I was recovering,” he said.

Within two years, he began attending local and regional competitions.

Cicotello said he’d always been intrigued by the instrument, noticing how music written for the electric guitar often incorporated parts for the banjo. His passion for bluegrass pushed him to start playing the instrument.

“I mean, bluegrass and banjos are synonymous,” he said.

“It’s not like folk music, per se,” Cicotello said. “It's more instrument driven, although there’s a lot of vocals with the storytelling. There’s always storytelling ... we’re allowed to pretty much do a lot of lead playing. This is something you can do ... with your friends, or you can do it on stage with professional people. It’s really cool. It's still the same thing — it’s the music of Appalachia.”

Emmaline Anderson, left, watches Elizabeth Anderson play in the guitar division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Ceyson Magagnotti plays in the guitar division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Elizabeth Anderson plays in the guitar division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Lucian Mikush plays in the teen fiddle division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Olivia Anderson plays in the championship fiddle division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Coraline Inglis plays in the teen fiddle division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Julia Eckert plays in the teen fiddle division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Olivia Anderson plays in the banjo division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Joe Faidley plays in the senior fiddle division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Olivia Anderson smiles after performing in the championship fiddle division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Tim Cicotello plays in the banjo division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Leighlynn Magagnotti plays in the junior fiddle division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

David Anderson plays in the banjo division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Emily Anderson plays in the championship fiddle division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Shay Dunkle plays in the teen fiddle division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Elizabeth Anderson, center, plays guitar while Olivia Anderson plays in the championship fiddle division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Joe Faidley plays in the guitar division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday, August 10. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Wes Brenaman plays in the guitar division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday, August 10. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Annamae Anderson performs in the mandolin division during the Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin & Flat Top Guitar Contest at the Butler Farm Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday, August 10. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle