Fiddling Tent
Are you here to register for the 2026 Competitions? Registration here!
Scottish Fiddling Competition
Sunday, September 6, 1:30 PMPreceded by a Scottish Fiddling workshop at 12:15 PMJudge: Elke BakerCompetition registration will close at the start of the workshop immediately preceding the competition.
Come hear some of the best young (and not so young) aspiring Scottish fiddlers in a contest of skill and musicianship at the Fiddling contest. Broken into Junior (17 and younger) and Senior categories, fiddlers can compete in the Novice, Intermediate, and Open classes for each category. A full competition set includes a slow air, then a pause, followed by a medley made up of a march, a Strathspey, and a reel. Contestants are judged on technique, faithfulness to the Scottish idiom, and expression. After the competition, stick around while the judge’s decision is considered and listen to an impromptu jam session hosted by the competitors.
Competitors in the Junior and Open categories may be eligible to compete at Nationals. Cash prizes, trophies, and a scholarship toward a Scottish Fiddling camp will also be awarded during the competition. The Fiddling Judge’s rankings and other decisions are final.
Registration can be done through the RegFox link above (signature will be required on the day of the contest). Same-day registration is offered until the start of the workshop immediately preceding the competition. Your paid entrance ticket includes the competition registration fee and can be purchased using the BUY TICKETS button above under Sunday.
More information about the requirements of the contest, such as tunes and etiquette, can be found on the Scottish Fiddling Revival (SFIRE) website in the “Competitions” section.
Sponsorship of the competition comes from the Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddle Club and the generous support of the Fiddling trophy and medal sponsors.
Come hear some of the best young (and not so young) aspiring Scottish fiddlers in a contest of skill and musicianship at the Fiddling contest. Broken into Junior (17 and younger) and Senior categories, fiddlers can compete in the Novice, Intermediate, and Open classes for each category. A full competition set includes a slow air, then a pause, followed by a medley made up of a march, a Strathspey, and a reel. Contestants are judged on technique, faithfulness to the Scottish idiom, and expression. After the competition, stick around while the judge’s decision is considered and listen to an impromptu jam session hosted by the competitors.
Competitors in the Junior and Open categories may be eligible to compete at Nationals. Cash prizes, trophies, and a scholarship toward a Scottish Fiddling camp will also be awarded during the competition. The Fiddling Judge’s rankings and other decisions are final.
Registration can be done through the RegFox link above (signature will be required on the day of the contest). Same-day registration is offered until the start of the workshop immediately preceding the competition. Your paid entrance ticket includes the competition registration fee and can be purchased using the BUY TICKETS button above under Sunday.
More information about the requirements of the contest, such as tunes and etiquette, can be found on the Scottish Fiddling Revival (SFIRE) website in the “Competitions” section.
Sponsorship of the competition comes from the Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddle Club and the generous support of the Fiddling trophy and medal sponsors.
2026 FIDDLE TENT SCHEDULE*
Saturday
Performances:
10:00 AM Cat & Banjo
11:00 AM Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddle Club
12:00 PM Closed for Opening Ceremonies12:30 PM Elke Baker and Ken Kolodner
01:30 PM Seán Heely Trio02:30 PM Elke Baker and Ken Kolodner03:30 PM Seán Heely Trio
Sunday
Competitions, Performances, & Workshop:
11:00 AM Elke Baker Performance12:15 PM Scottish Fiddling Workshop with Elke Baker01:30 PM Fiddling Competition03:00 PM Fiddling Competition Awards Ceremony
*Schedule subject to change/adjustments.
2026 Award Sponsors
2026 TRophies
Fiddling - Open - 1st Place
Paul Brockman Memorial Award
- Sponsored by Nancy Brockman
Fiddling - Open - 2nd Place
Ronald Duncan Gonnella Award
- Sponsored by Clan Donnachaidh Society
Fiddling - Open - 3rd Place
Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddle Club Award
- Sponsored by Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddle Club
Fiddling - Intermediate Open - 1st Place
- Sponsored by The Becker Family
Fiddling - Adult Novice - 1st Place
The Charles E. Watts Memorial Award
- Sponsored by Barbara Saliunas
Fiddling - Junior - 1st Place
- Sponsored by The Becker Family
Fiddling - Junior - 2nd Place
Ian Smith-Christmas Memorial Award
- Sponsored by Harris Andrews & Ann Gates
Fiddling - Intermediate Junior - 1st Place
- Sponsored by The Becker Family
Fiddling - Junior Novice - 1st Place
The William Kemp Memorial Award
- Sponsored by Harris Andrews & Ann Gates
Fiddling - Best March
The Michael Pavuk Memorial Award
- Sponsored by Andrea Novak
Fiddling - Best Strathspey
- Sponsored by David Brundage
Fiddling - Best Set
- Sponsored by David Brundage
Fiddler of the Day - Junior
- Sponsored by Maria & Ed Ward
Fiddling - Open - 3rd Place
John Ward Memorial Award- Sponsored by Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddle Club
Fiddling - Most Promising Fiddler
The Jarrett Memorial Award
- Sponsored by VSGA
James Harrison Monroe Fiddling Scholarship
- Sponsored by VSGA
2026 Medals
SCOTTISH FIDDLE Tent
The VSG Fiddling Tent showcases traditional and modern music from the Scottish tradition, including Cape Breton, Shetland, and related styles. In addition to fun and engaging performances, the Fiddling Tent is also a welcoming location for workshops on traditional fiddling and a fiddling competition sanctioned by SFIRE, the North American association for Scottish Fiddling. Some of the VA Scottish Games fiddling competition winners have gone on to win the US National Scottish Fiddling Competition!
History of Scottish Fiddling
Since its introduction to Scotland at the end of the seventeenth century the violin – often under the name given to older bowed instruments, namely "fiddle" – has been central to the music of Scotland, from the Scandinavian-influenced Orkney and Shetland islands, through the wild dances and mournful airs of the Gaelic Highlands, to the ballrooms and performance halls of the cities, through the Scots lowlands and borders. The music composed for fiddle ranges from the simple anonymous folk tune to the refined compositions of one of Scotland ’s great 18th and 19th century composers, through the modern syncopated influences of today’s musicians. Scottish Fiddling is thus a living tradition, steeped in the past, existing in the present, and anticipating the future. It draws influences from, and influences in return, song from the other great instrumental traditions of Scotland, such as harp and bagpipe. Scottish fiddle music is also unique in the Scottish arts in how it was influenced by Continental music traditions, and how its sounds and rhythms have formed much of the foundation of the fiddle music of the New World. The Scottish Fiddling Tent represents all aspects of this living tradition, from the judge’s instruction, where style points are discussed, to the fiddle competition, where today’s fiddlers are encouraged to achieve their highest potential, to the many concerts and performances showcasing this area’s rich and deep pool of talent on the Scottish fiddle and the instruments that accompany it.
2025 Awards
Catherine McClain
1st Place Open
Additional Awards: Best Air, Best March, Best Reel, Fiddler of the Day
Bailey Knotts
1st Place Novice SeniorAdditional Award: Most Promising Fiddler
Andrew Henderson
2nd Place Open Additional Award: Best Set
Sydney Vaughn
1st Place Intermediate Adult
Additional Award: Best Strathspey