The finalists in the 5th annual Scott Street Five String Finals competed live on the Virginia Folklife Stage at the Richmond Folk Festival on Saturday, October 12, 2019.
Our distinguished judges – Sammy Shelor, Riley Baugus, Brett Martin, and Malcolm Pulley – were impressed with the level of talent shown by this year’s contestants.
Contestants and judges of the Scott Strings Banjo Competition at the Richmond Folk Festival, held Saturday, October 12, 2019. (photo by Skip Rowland)
2019 Winners
Winners of the Scott Strings Banjo Competition at the Richmond Folk Festival, held Saturday, October 12, 2019. (Photo by Skip Rowland)
Bluegrass division:
- Winner: Stewart Werner, 16. Rocky Mount, VA
- 1st runner up: Taylor Parks, 15. Bloxom, VA
- 2nd runner up: Jacob Moretz, 14 Boone, NC
Clawhammer division:
- Winner: Claire Childress, 16 Big Stone Gap, VA
- 1st runner up: Hannah Cantrell, 15. Floyd, VA
- 2nd runner up: Nicholas Wingo, 16. Rural Retreat, VA
Winners in each division received a handsome crystal trophy, a demo recording session at In Your Ear Studios, and a $1,000 cash prize. Runners up received $600 with $400 for third place.
About the Finals
To honor the memory of beloved JAMinc board member, distinguished attorney and dedicated banjo player Scott Street who we lost in February of 2015 to cancer, in cooperation with the Richmond Folk Festival, JAMinc sponsors the banjo competition for young players 18 and under.
Held each year at the Richmond Folk Festival, there are two divisions and two sets of finalists … for bluegrass/Scruggs-style players and for clawhammer/old time players.
After a preliminary round of YouTube video entries, finalists are selected in each division by a distinguished panel of judges.
Get the full details at the Richmond Folk Festival website.