The 53rd Annual Grand Masters will be held on Sunday September 1st, 2024, in the Turner Theater at The Factory at Franklin.

The Grand Master Fiddler Championship is a Tennessee Non-profit and U.S. IRS 501(c)(3) charitable corporation, formed to educate about and perpetuate fiddling as an art form and cultural treasure. We strive to provide a world-class event for your enjoyment. Our Board members and volunteers do not receive any compensation for their work. And we are proud to continue our tradition as a proving-ground for contestants and teachers. Past contestants and champions include Sam Bush, “Woody” Paul Chrisman, Billy Contreras (Ricky Skaggs), Larry Franklin, Aubrey Hanie, Alex Hargreaves (Billy Strings), J’Anna Jacoby (Rod Stewart), Alison Krauss, Jimmy Mattingly (Garth Brooks), Mark O’Connor, Dale Morris, Jr., Danita Gardner, Deanie Richardson (Sister Sadie, Patty Loveless) and Katrina Nicolayeff. Many others, including Crystal Plohman (Vanderbilt Blair School of Music), and Daniel & Amy Carwile (Carwile String Studio), share their talents as teachers. They honor the GMFC by helping keep fiddle music relevant around the world.

The contest is Free to attend. There is no entry fee!

Schedule

9:00 – 9:45 am Contestant Check-in

9:45 – 10:00 am Welcome and National Anthem

10:00 – 11:30 pm Youth Competition – Preliminary Round (up to 20 fiddlers)

11:30 – 12:00 pm Break

12:00 – 1:30 pm Open Competition – Preliminary Round (up to 20 fiddlers)

1:30 – 2:30 pm Youth Championship – Top 10 fiddlers

2:30 – 4:00 pm Open Championship – Top 10 fiddlers

4:00 – 5:00 pm Entertainment – Mark & Maggie O’Connor

5:00 – 5:30 pm Announcement – Matthew Thomas Lin Scholarship Presentation

5:30 – 6:15 pm Dr. Perry F. Harris Award, Charlie Bush Award, Open and Youth Awards