Idaho State Fiddling Contest

Everett is halfway through his tennis season at EVMS. He was very excited the coaches put him on the A team with players who are more committed. He loves tennis! So far he’s won a few matches and lost a few as well. Josie had a second violin lesson this week with her competition coming up on Saturday. She practiced her 6 songs 3-4 times each with Andrew playing guitar. Evelyn and I got a fun new song to learn called “Keep on the Sunny Side.” It’s an old Appalachian tune. Josie played her violin for 2 kindergarten classes on Tuesday just to play in front of a large group. She was keen to play because the prize was a chocolate bunny. Bribes! 

A few more folks showed up in costume on Thursday’s rehearsal. There are only about 50 participants who have not had their costume checked and passed off. Those are the ones I worry about showing up on concert day with some strange get up on. We talked through concert logistics with Abby and Kelly as the choir is 25% larger this year and there is a traveling cast to accommodate as well. I was told that I need to have a seamstress available at all concerts with a serger and sewing machine ready to work. Abby had one friend who covered Friday 5 pm, the rest I will just have to keep Cara or I at the attire table. 

Saturday was a very long day for us all with an early curtain call at 8 am in Eagle for combined rehearsal. Justin came along because our next stop was a 70 minute drive east to Mountain Home. A few more singers came in costume with corrections, checked those right off. I quite enjoyed crocheting on my new blanket project while listening to the rehearsal. Everett feels the spirit each time they sing the song about Jesus Christ. It sounds magnificent. We cannot wait for next week’s performances. I pulled the older 3 out of rehearsal 15 minutes early so we could make it to Mountain Home by 1 pm. We stopped for burritos and tacos at Del Taco, always a favorite. 

Josie looked so cute with her white dress, pony tails, and black boots…her violin tucked under her chin. We got her registered and checked-in for her division, Junior-Junior. Emma said that one other young man had showed up and registered for the same division. We had to wait quite a while for lunch to be over, as the competition was running about an hour late. Josie practiced with Eliza out in the front foyer, and then again by herself. She was a little ball of nerves! Her first set she performed first. Josie’s pitch was spot on, she missed a few bars toward the end but picked up the tune right away. Her first round she played Arkansas Traveler, Edelweiss, and You are my Sunshine. She was beaming after she finished that first set. Her competitor was a 12 year old boy who had his music squared away! He was very impressive. We watched the rest of round one with the older talented teens and adults. During another break for judges to tally scores we went outside to get boba and doughnuts from a food truck there for the event. Yum. Josie practiced for round 2 before it was time to perform her second round of songs, of Boil Down Cabbage, French Folk Song, and Twinkle, Twinkle. The MC was hilarious, he announced that Eliza enjoyed crochetting with a hard “t.” Andrew Beck is a marvel with his violin and mandolin. He is a musical genius. The judges all competed in the adult category, that was awesome to hear seasoned players belting out perfect music. Josie won second place in Junior-Junior as completely expected. She won $75, a medal, and trophy for her hard work. I hope she keeps at it. I won a bid on a beautiful teal ukulele! Emma kept outbidding me, she won the other instrument so at least we both got one. I also won a bid for Roaring Springs tickets and a t-shirt for Josie. We were ready to go home and snuggle our puppies. It was after 6 pm by the time we pulled back into our driveway.