Wearing a tropical print shirt, Andrew Vogts, 2016 Grand Champion, got up on stage with Victor Furtado on banjo as back up at the 34th annual Lyons Fiddle Festival held at Lyons Park on Sunday, Sept. 17. His fiddlin’ was foot tapping, fast, and lively. Vogts won the 2017 Grand Champion title, as well as first place in Class II (ages 13 to 17).
“It’s just really fun. I like playing here because it’s the first contest I started playing at,” said Vogts who played classical violin since the age of 4.
Eight years ago, he met Furtado, of Virginia, at the Berlin Fiddler’s Convention in Maryland and they have been playing together ever since. Furtado competed in the same class as Vogts and placed second. Third place went to Emme Drago.
Class I (ages 12 and under) fiddle contest winners are first place Maisy Funk, second place Katharine Neary, and third place Maxwell Brown. Class III (ages 18 and up) winners are first place Sasha Hsuzyk, second place Marina Pendleton, and third place Melissa Martin.
An important focus for the Lyons Fiddle Festival is the promotion of musical excellence. Fiddle music includes old time, bluegrass, folk, country, Irish, Celtic, Texas swing, Canadian, French-Canadian, and a few other varieties. Contestants are able to compose a mix and or play tunes they had written. They are judged on a variety of skills including, but not limited to, intonation, accuracy, method, fluidity, and difficulty of the song.
When asked why so many who have played classical violin turn to fiddle, festival MC Keith Brintzenhoff said, “It’s very lively, usually the fast tunes, and the slow tunes are very sweet and charming.”
Larry Ross, stage manager, tries to promote local talent as well as talent from various areas this side of the United States. Ross and Brintzenhoff try to keep the music level up pretty high to say these people deserve the Lyons Fiddle Fest stage. This year’s talent included The Hillbilly Gypsies from West Virginia, Hurricane Hoss, also known as Sarah Larsen and the 2015 Festival Grand Champion, The Martin Sisters, also Grand Champions of fiddle competition in Berks and Lyons, Far From the City in a reunion concert after a 20-year-absence, Caroline Reese, who grew up in Reading, and a band that likes to join the Festival’s jam groups, The Kreider Trio.
“We have, already, got one lined up [2018 Lyons Fiddle Festival]. She’s our two-time Grand Champion and right now she resides in Canada so she’s gong to bring some Canadian influence,” said Ross.
Another key focus of the Festival is community. Funds raised from the festival goes toward maintaining Lyons Park and supporting events for children in the community. The Festival helps in other ways as well. Donations for parking goes to the Lyons Fire Company Truck Crew and the HOBOS, Helping Others Before Ourselves. The Hope Lutheran Church and the Boy Scouts maintain treat stands to raise funds for their cause. Kutztown Area High School’s Field Hockey Team sold fruit cups to raise funds for its group. This year, money raised by the baked goods stand will be given to the Sally (Breidegam) Miksiewicz Scholarship Fund for Moravian College. Miksiewicz was the late CEO and vice chairperson of East Penn Manufacturing.
The Festival also means community involvement. Approximately 2,200 people congregated in Lyons for the festival, including volunteers. The festival is run totally by volunteers.
Art Kayhart, Scoutmaster, New Jerusalem Troop 585, said, “The Fiddle Festival gives the boys a chance to see the culture in the area. They get to enjoy the different types of music and they actually get a chance to go around about with the people of the community while helping out.”
Every year a volunteer is honored with the Suzanne Reed Volunteer of the Year Award. Suzie Reed resurrected the festival when the original founder, Arlan Schwoyer, was no longer able to run the event. She realized how much the festival meant to many people.
This year’s volunteer award went to Georgianne Haring for her dedication to helping with the community she has lived in for 30 years. Haring was a member of the Lyons Card Club, sat on the Lyons Water Authority, is treasurer of the Lyons Recreation Board, is a member of the Lyons Fiddle Festival, volunteers at the Brandywine Community Library, helps with Meals on Wheels, is one of the elections day ladies, and volunteers at The Lutheran Home at Topton.
“I’d say she hasn’t slowed down one bit,” Erin Dallago, Co-chairperson, said. “You will always see this year’s awardee with a smile on her face; happy-go-lucky. She’s been handling the financial aspect of this festival and has always made sure we keep an eye on making this festival affordable and community driven. She works behind the scenes.”
Haring held her award to the heavens and said, “I accept this for Suzie Reed, the greatest volunteer of all. Suzie, we did it again this year; love you Suzie.”
The festival also kept up with its tradition of raffling off a handcrafted quilt and a Martin guitar.
Dorothy Blatt, Blandon, won the Martin Dreadnaught Guitar raffle. Before leaving the stage with her new guitar, Blatt said she is going to take guitar lessons.
Marti Morgan Muhe won the queen-sized handcrafted quilt. In a post in Facebook, she said, “I won the quilt! I won the quilt! I love the Lyon’s Fiddle Fest. Every year it reminds me of family gatherings back in Oklahoma, awesome food, great vendors to shop, and always a fun day with a dear friend…but this time, I won the quilt raffle and brought home this beautiful, handmade, queen-sized lovely! Can you believe it?? I am so thrilled and will treasure it always!!
For anyone interested in performing at the Lyons Fiddle Festival next year, contact Ross at lyonsfiddlefest@gmail.com.
