The 2024 Instrument Contest was presented by Vibrant America and The Utah-Old Time Fiddlers and Country Music Association.

2024 Utah State Instrument Champions!

Many thanks to all of our generous sponsors:

• Utah Old Time Fiddlers and Country Music Association (“UOTF”): Dixie, Pahvant, Pioneer, Salt Lake, and Utah County chapters

• Vibrant America, Inc.

• Classical Strings (Harrisville)

• Acoustic Music (Salt Lake City)

• Piano Gallery (Riverdale)

And a few other generous donors, who wish to remain anonymous.

Contest results:

• Bluegrass Banjo: Open
1) Xavier Hay, 2) Mike Collins

• Clawhammer Banjo: Open
1) Levi Rice, 2) Dan Eastmond

• Finger Style Guitar: Open
1) Nick Johnson, 2) Arron Jacques, 3) Matt Seabury

• Flat Pick Guitar: Open
1) Buckley Banham, 2) Joseph Harmsen, 3) Becky Burr

• Mandolin: Open
1) Mike Collins, 2) Chris Ward, 3) Erin Christensen

Congratulations to All Champions from This and Previous Years!

2022 Utah State Instrument Champions

Many thanks to all of our sponsors: Intermountain Acoustic Music Association (IAMA), Walnut Valley Festival, legendary flute maker Bill Hughes, USIC founders – Jim and Janet Witherspoon, Salt Lake County Zoo Arts and Parks (ZAP), and Rusted Sun Pizzeria!

Banjo: Open
1) Isaac Geslison, 2) Hank Hansen
Fiddle: Novice
1) Susan Horn, 2) Donovan DeMartini, 3) Ike Hansen
Fiddle: Open
1) Ellie Geslison, 2) June Crosby
Fingerstyle Guitar: Novice
1) Dax Cantwell
Fingerstyle Guitar: Open
1) Keith Taylor, 2) Guy Benson, 3) Forest Slater
Flatpick Guitar: Novice
1) Steve Peterson, 2) Charlie Hansen
Flatpick Guitar: Open
1) Hudson Bosworth, 2) Isaac Geslison, 3) Hank Hansen
Mandolin: Novice
1) Ellie Geslison, 2) Erin Christensen
Mandolin: Open
1) Hudson Bosworth, 2) Isaac Geslison, 3) Charlie Hansen

2021 Utah State Instrument Champions

A big thanks to all of our sponsors! Intermountain Acoustic Music Association (IAMA), Walnut Valley Festival, Ogden Friends of Acoustic Music (OFOAM) and Ogden Music Festival, legendary flute maker Bill Hughes, USIC founders – Jim and Janet Witherspoon, Salt Lake County Zoo Arts and Parks (ZAP), and Rusted Sun Pizzeria.

Banjo: Open
1) Lydia James
Fiddle: Novice
1) Sarah Morton, 2) Trinity Hirst, 3) Robin Sorensen
Fiddle: Open
1) Skyler Beck, 2) Shawn Foster, 3) Chase Hearn
Fingerstyle Guitar: Open
1) Nick Johnson, 2) Keith Taylor, 3) Guy Benson
Flatpick Guitar: Novice
1) Hazel Jane Royer, 2) Maxwell Sorensen, 3) Hank Hansen
Flatpick Guitar: Open
1) Zach Beck, 2) Joy Williams, 3) Gage Hemphill
Mandolin: Novice
1) Charles Hansen, 2) Annika Durham, 3) Hazel Jane Royer
Mandolin: Open
1) Robert Sorensen, 2) Lilliana Libecki

2020 Utah State Instrument Champions

This was the unfortunate year for nearly everyone across the globe. As COVID-19 reared its ugly face, music events, as with nearly all social events, were canceled. These competitions were no exception. (Though we know many musical champions were practicing at home during this time :)

2019 Utah State Instrument Champions

Special thanks to our fabulous and generous sponsors: Walnut Valley Festival, Martin Guitars, Qualia Fine Strings, Deering Banjos, Joyineering, Salt Lake County Zoo Arts and Parks (ZAP), and the Ogden Music Festival!

Banjo: Novice
1) Taylor Thurman
Banjo: Open
1) Aidan Ruskauff, 2) Ashton Barker, 3) Anna Petrie
Fiddle: Novice
1) Adelia Schupbach, 2) Elizabeth Spencer, 3) Roxy Sparks
Fiddle: Open
1) Lenora Schupbach, 2) Victoria McCombe, 3) Danielle Judd
Fingerstyle Guitar: Novice
1) Corbin Ellis, 2) Ashlynn Weyand, 3) Spencer Curtis
Fingerstyle Guitar: Open
1) Craig Schriber, 2) Jiuk Hwang, 3) Nick Johnson
Flatpick Guitar: Novice
1) Kimbery Hearn, 2) Jaren Pope, 3) Julie Borgman
Flatpick Guitar: Open
1) Jonah Schupbach, 2) Mark Murphy, 3) Ashlynn Weyand
Mandolin: Novice
1) Steven Sadler, 2) Kristina Christopherson, 3) Annika Durham
Mandolin: Open
1) Abby Sudweeks, 2) Christian Hearn, 3) Ben Petrie

2018 Utah State Instrument Champions

Banjo: Novice
1) Anna Petrie, 2) Lydia James, 3) Hayden Fonger
Banjo: Open
1) Jordan Snow, 2) Brian Gunderson, 3) Ayden Anderson
Fiddle: Novice
1) Victoria McCombe, 2) Lucy Danzig, 3) Love Gallagher
Fiddle: Open
1) Megan Nay, 2) Juliette Bascom, 3) Skyler Beck
Fingerstyle Guitar: Open
1) Joao Fadel, 2) Michael Furry, 3) Nick Johnson
Flatpick Guitar: Novice
1) Ashlynn Weyand, 2) Corbin Ellis
Flatpick Guitar: Open
1) Michael Furry, 2) Jonah Schupbach, 3) Joy Williams
Mandolin: Novice
1) Aidan Ruskauff, 2) Xavier Moronta
Mandolin: Open
1) Forest Slater, 2) Christian Hearn, 3) Steve Santora

2017 Utah State Instrument Champions

Banjo: Novice
1) Nate Horowitz, 2) Lyndsay Gates
Banjo: Open
1) Eric Welty, 2) Gregg Robbins-Welty, 3) Hudson Bosworth
Fiddle: Novice
1) Benjamin Kieda, 2) Brooke Tatum, 3) Lucy Danzig
Fiddle: Open
1) Bethany McCombe, 2) Meagan Nay, 3) Christine Gundayo
Fingerstyle Guitar: Open
1) Arron Jacques, 2) Nick Johnson, 3) Scott Boyd
Flatpick Guitar: Novice
1) Taylor Thurman, 2) Jayda Thurmon, 3) Ashlyn Weyand
Flatpick Guitar: Open
1) Kylie Anderson, 2) Gregg Robbins-Welty, 3) Julian Mitton
Mandolin: Novice
1) Rebecca Cengiz, 2) Ben Petrie
Mandolin: Open
1) Hudson Bosworth, 2) Stephen Santora, 3) Christian Hearn

2016 Utah State Instrument Champions

Banjo: Open
1) Jordan Benson, 2) Kent Monson, 3) Ayden Anderson
Fiddle: Novice
1) Leona Schupach, 2) Cruise Barry, 3) Chase Hearn
Fiddle: Open
1) Anastasia Lund, 2) Danielle Montague-Judd, 3) Bethany McCombe
Fingerstyle Guitar: Open
1) James Murray, 2) Brad Bertram, 3) Brad Tew
Flatpick Guitar: Novice
1) Rebecca Cengiz-Robbs, 2) Julie Borgman
Flatpick Guitar: Open
1) Moriah Ozberkmen, 2) Erin Patterson, 3) Amanda Johnson
Mandolin: Open
1) Moriah Ozberkmen, 2) Charles Fuertsch, 3) Graham Northrop