Cloverdale >> Rafael Contreras plays the fiddle well beyond his 12 years.
At the Cloverdale Old Time Fiddle Festival on April 11, the young Lower Lake musician placed first in the Twin Fiddles category with his Kelseyville teacher Andi Skelton. He was 11 at the time and the only child in the category. He also took home fourth place out of 16 when he competed in the 13-17 age group. What he lacked in years, he made up for in talent.
The Cloverdale Old Time Fiddle Festival is an annual competition, sponsored in part by the California State Fiddlers Association. With contestants traveling from all over California, and sometimes farther, the duo faced some stiff competition. “As a matter of fact, in the Twin Fiddle class we had some really good players to compete against and … he was the only one who was not an adult,” Skelton said. “It’s a delight to have a student like that.”
During the previous three years, Contreras snagged first place in his age group at the contest. Rules dictated he had to advance an age category. “[He] is a really good student,” said Skelton. “He plays in our fiddle club and he plays in our youth orchestra.”
The Konocti Fiddle Club, directed by Skelton, is for students of all ages and Contreras is an important member of the group. He is in the first violin section of the Lake County Symphony Association Youth Orchestra. He also plays the viola. He’s so devoted to music that he plays before school is even called to session, strumming the guitar in ‘Little Kids Rock’, a morning class with teacher Bill Bordisso.
Contreras keeps himself busy, with interests extending beyond music. He’s a devoted student at Lower Lake Elementary, where he’s made the Principal’s List for the past two trimesters. He partakes in clogging with the after-school class, Konocti Klogging Kids, and acts as treasurer for the Cobb 4-H Club.
The talented multi-instrumentalist has been Skelton’s student for about three years, and approached her with the idea to compete in the Twin Fiddles category together.
Like Contreras, Skelton won the category with another musician for two years running, and rules required she find a new partner. Since the two play together regularly during their classes, their musical chemistry came quite naturally. “It seems like we practice all year round in our lessons to get good at some of these things that we do,” Skelton said.
Contreras wasn’t the only musician to take home more than one award. Skelton placed third in the Senior Old Time and Waltz Divisions in addition to her win with Contreras. Other Lake County musicians also performed well at the festival. Sue Condit, director of the youth orchestra, also placed in the top five in the Twin Fiddles category. Local guitarist Don Coffin placed fourth in the Accompanist category. Plenty of medals and prize money were awarded to the Lake County musicians.
With a number of kids competing at the Cloverdale Old Time Fiddle Festival, it’s an incentive for students and their instructors to devote extra time and effort to their music. “Most all the advanced people are usually teachers,” Skelton said. “Some of the kids, they are getting so good. It’s something to work toward and get an award. It makes us work really hard.”
The competition’s vast age range — the youngest fiddler was a mere five-years-old and the oldest was going on 82 years — represents the joy of the music. “That’s the fun of fiddling, because all ages get along great,” Skelton said.
There are a few upcoming opportunities to see the young musician in action. Contreras performs with the Lake County Symphony Association Youth Orchestra at the Soper Reese Theatre on June 7 for a Spring Concert. As members of the California State Old Time Fiddle Association District 10, Contreras and his brother, percussionist Christian Contreras, will perform with the group at the Bluegrass Jamboree Concert at the Soper Reese Theatre in September.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
