Wythe County residents pick up prizes in Galax

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

Several Wythe County musicians won awards at the 73rd Old Fiddlers Convention held Aug. 4-9 at Felts Park in Galax. A Rural Retreat resident also placed in the dance competition.
“I was pretty excited,” said 11-year-old Kali Taylor of Barren Springs, third-place winner as old time fiddler in the youth competition. “I was surprised I placed. I’d been in it for two years before and hadn’t placed.”
Taylor, an upcoming student at Fort Chiswell Middle School, has been playing fiddle for three years. She takes private lessons from Scott Freeman of Woodlawn.
“I have a lesson once a week,” Taylor noted. “But I practice every day.”
In June, she received a $500 Wayne Henderson Scholarship after submitting a tape to the Appalachian musician and guitar maker. Taylor applied the money toward her music lessons.
She is the daughter of Jennifer Manuel. Her stepfather is Rusty Manuel.
Adam McPeak of Max Meadows took home fourth-place honors for his mandolin performance in the youth competition. He is the 13-year-old son of Mike McPeak, one of the McPeak Brothers band, and Debbie Frye.
“I picked it up from my Uncle Dewey,” McPeak said. “I’ve been playing mandolin for two years. I play the guitar and upright base, too.”
He will be featured along with his famous musician family, the McPeak Brothers, at Josiah’s Grahamfest USA near Graham’s Forge on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. McPeak plays at various venues with his dad.
McPeak is a student at Fort Chiswell Middle School.
In the adult competition, Trevor McKenzie, a Rural Retreat High School graduate and student at Appalachian State, of Rural Retreat won fourth place for folk song. Kenny Monahan, also of Rural Retreat, placed first in the dance competition.
Stan Massie of Wytheville won 10th place in the dulcimer competition.
“The fiddlers’ convention was very successful this year,” said Tom Jones, spokesman for the Galax Moose Lodge 733, which sponsored the event. “Attendance was up from last year and last year’s attendance was the best it had been in five years.”
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or .