6pm April 6th, 2024 @ North Moore High School

Highfalls Old-Time Fiddlers’ Convention 

Rules for Competition

There are four categories: Youth (16 and under), Dancers, Adult Individuals, Bands. Registration will begin at 4:30pm and will go until 6:00pm in the Student Union/ Cafeteria.  Signs will be posted to direct you to registration. One delegate from each BAND will need to be present in the Cafeteria/Student Union at 6:00pm to draw out of a hat for the order of band performances.

Youth Competition will begin at 6:00pm and Youth participants will perform in order of registration. Dancers will perform following the Youth category and will perform in order of registration. Youth awards will occur as soon as youth competition judging is complete. Individuals will perform following all dance acts in the order of registration. Intermission will be at 8:30pm. Bands will begin performing after the last individual act.

Performance blocks will be posted backstage. Performers need to check backstage to see when they are performing. Convention promoters may record and reproduce performances free of claim by contestants. Judges' decisions are final and cannot be contested.

The organizers of this event are not responsible for accidents or injuries to contestants, participants, spectators, or volunteer workers attending this event. 

Youth Instrumental and Vocal Competition 

1. All competitors 16 years old and younger may be judged in this category. Any Youth may elect to compete in the adult category instead. 

2. Performers will be allowed 1 musical number no longer than 5 minutes.

3. Youth instrumentalists may register on a maximum of 2 instruments. Youth may register once as a vocalist in addition to a maximum of 2 instrumental entries.

4. Awards for each Instrument (1st through 3rd place) & “Most Outstanding Performance by a Youth” will be given once judging is complete. 

Dancers

1. One band will play for all dancers.  No cassette or CD music.

2. Each dancer will be allowed 60 seconds to perform on the stage. If a group is onstage, individuals will be judged as they come forward, again for a maximum of 60 seconds.

3. All dancers will perform at the conclusion of the Youth Category, listen for an announcement.

4. A dancer 16 years and younger will register as a dancer, not a youth.  (Reason: All dancers will be accompanied by the same band).

Individual -  Instrumental & Vocal

1. Individual Instrumental Contestants will be allowed 1 number with a maximum of 1 back-up instrument. Back-up instrument cannot be the same as the contestant’s instrument. 

2. Individual instrumentalists may register on a maximum of 2 instruments.

3. Individual vocal contestants will be allowed 1 number with a maximum of 1 back-up instrument. 

4. Band members will be judged independently during their performance as a band. They will not be allowed to compete in the individual performance on the same instrument. They will be allowed to compete individually on a separate instrument. 

Bands

1. Bands must consist of 4 members, but no more than 7 members.

2. Bands will be allowed 2 numbers. Bands will have 9 minutes to perform their 2 numbers. 

3. Band members will be judged on their individual instruments as they compete as a band. 

4. Band members will not be allowed to compete in the individual performance on the same instrument. They will be allowed to compete individually on a separate instrument. 

Songs or tunes performed must be from the public domain and not copyrighted after January 1st, 1978 as per Title 17 of US Code.