In addition to the General Contest Rules, the following rules apply specifically to the Fiddle Division:
1.
Entry blank must be completed and entry fee paid before participation. A division is closed ½ hour before that divisions begins.
2.
Committee officials will randomly select numbers for all contestants for order of appearance. Contestant order will be posted pproximately ½ hour before the division begins and the contestant must be ready to play when called.
3.
During each contest round, contestants must first play a hoedown, then a waltz, and then a tune of choice other than a hoedown or a waltz. Any danceable folk tune played in old time fiddle style is acceptable. No tune shall be played more than once during all appearances of a contestant in the fiddle division. The same tune played in a different key will not be considered a different tune. The top 5 contestants in each fiddle category will play in the finals. The top 8 contestants in the Open Division will play in the semi-finals (Round 2). Total playing time per round is 4 minutes. There is a 10 second grace period. Ten points will be deducted for every 30 seconds or portion thereof over 4 minutes.
4.
If there is a tie for 5th place after the preliminary round (Round 1) or Round 2 in the Open Division, the top 6 contestants will all play in the final round. In the event of a tie involving prize money, the tied contestants shall play a hoedown. If there is a tie and a tied contestant is not immediately available for a playoff, the contestant ready to play shall be declared the winner of the tie.
5.
Contestants may play without accompaniment or with a maximum of 2 accompanists.
6.
No trick or fancy fiddling is allowed during regular contest appearances. There shall be no cross-tuning on stage. If a contestant wishes to play a cross-tuned fiddle, then all 3 tunes in that round must be played in that tuning.
7.
Any contestant winning 3 consecutive years in the Open Division may not compete in any regular fiddle division at the Columbia Gorge Fiddle Contest for 1 year.
8.
Any contestant winning 3 consecutive years in the Senior, Adult, Young Adult, or Junior Division automatically moves into the Open Division the following year. Any Junior Junior or Small Fry contestant winning 3 consecutive years will move into the next higher age division or may choose to enter the Open Division the following year.
9.
Judging will be based on the following, for a total of 100 point possible for each tune:
Danceability and Rhythm
25 points
Production of Tone & Clarity
25 points
Intonation of Notes
25 points
Difficulty
25 points
10.
All scores are cumulative. Points will be deducted or disqualification may occur for violation of the contest rules.
11.
Contestants may only enter one regular fiddle division.
