This contest provides an opportunity to discover, develop, and encourage talent in the youth of Western North Carolina and to provide an opportunity for local youth to perform on stage before an audience. In hopes of encouraging a continuing "sense of place" for our musical mountain youth, Jackson County 4-H and Catch the Spirit of Appalachia (CSA) co-produce this contest of traditional music, storytelling and dance.   

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

Youth Fiddle I:

• 1st Place: Ella Ledford (10), Sylva

• 2nd Place: Sayumi DeSilva (11), Sylva

• 3rd Place: Julia Estes (10), Franklin

• 3rd Place: Mihin DeSilva (8), Sylva

Youth Guitar:

• 1st Place: Caleb Turpin (11), Robbinsville

• 2nd Place: Evan Lampkin (9), Franklin

Youth Banjo:

• 1st Place: Danny Estes (12), Franklin

Youth Mandolin:

• 1st Place: Caleb Turpin (11), Robbinsville

• 2nd Place: Mihin DeSilva (8), Sylva

• 3rd Place: Sayumi DeSilva (10), Sylva

Youth Vocal (younger):

• 1st Place: Jacey Begnaud (10), Franklin

• 2nd Place: Ella Ledford (10), Sylva

• 3rd Place: Mihin DeSilva (8), Sylva

• 3rd Place: Caleb Turpin (11), Robbinsville

Teen Vocal:

• 1st Place: Dakota Gatti (15), Topton

Teen Fiddle:

• 1st Place: Joshua Jones (14), Robbinsville

Teen Piano:

• 1st Place: Dakota Gatti (15), Topton

Teen Mandolin:

• 1st Place: Joshua Jones (14), Robbinsville

Teen Individual Dance:

• 1st Place: Dakota Gatti (15), Topton

Group:

• 1st Place: Liu Bo Wilkins (15), Isabella Wilkins (11), Sara Ricotta (13), Otto & Franklin

• 2nd Place: Isabella Wilkins (11), Hannah Cabe (17), Otto & Franklin

• 3rd Place: Danny Estes (12), Julia Estes (10), Franklin

Judges Choice Award:

• Mihin DeSilva (8), Sylva 

Best of Show:

• 1st Place: Joshua Jones (14), Robbinsville

• 2nd Place: Jacey Begnaud (10), Franklin

• 3rd Place: Caleb Turpin (11), Robbinsville

The first place Best of Show winner will get the chance to perform on stage at the Mountain Heritage Day held at Western Carolina University on Sept. 24 in Cullowhee. This larger venue, with its broader audience, will be terrific opportunity for the young people from the Talent Contests to serve as ambassadors of traditional Appalachian music and heritage.