And now for an update...
We've just wrapped up our 25th Annual
Yadkin Valley Bluegrass Convention
and it's on to next year...
Look for us again on
Saturday, April 16th, 2011
Each year we receive feedback from the musicians and the fans. We consider
all comments and use them towards making our event a better experience for everyone involved. As always we welcome your questions and comments! Please check our Frequently Asked Questions page to see if your questions have already been answered. If you don't find what you're for there please send an EMAIL!
A Note from the Coordinator:
This year we experienced a huge increase in the number of contestants registered - up from 17 bands in 2009 to 30 bands this year - and this doesn't include the individual performers. 
It was a landmark year for us as we finally were able to offer a full slate of prizes to the kids as well as the "old folks." The split into Junior and Senior Divisions was great - but it did not come without problems. We were faced with roughly double the number of awards we had to determine. Everyone from the registrars, judges, and right on down to the score keepers found themselves with more work than usual. We'll chalk it up to growing pains - but we ARE determined to make it work even better next year.
Another big change for us was the implementation of the lottery system for determining the order of performance. Again the big shocker was the sheer number of performers we had to schedule. There is no doubt that we will stick with this method - BUT we will definitely be looking for ways to make the process work more smoothly. We achieved our purpose - once we started there were no breaks in the competition!
I want to take this opportunity to thank Yadkin Arts Council President John Willingham for all of the great support he has given to this project. He's been right there through thick and thin! I would also like to thank our numerous sponsors who helped to bolster the prizes that we were able to award - without them we would just have to hang it up! The Yadkinville Rotary Club did a great job with the concession - and our friend Bodie Wringler cooked up some of the best pork tenderloins you'll ever put in your mouth - I know... I had three of 'em!
Also a special thanks to the Yadkinville Elementary School and to Jimmy Collins for all of the extra time he put in for us.
Mark April 16 on your 2011 calendars and please be sure to tell all of your friends and "picking buddies" that the Yadkinville convention is still going strong. The 2011 convention will kick-off the second quarter-century of the Yadkin Valley Bluegrass Conventions. I'd like to be at everyone of them - but I sure hope to be one of the pickers and maybe even sit in the audience for once. After 25 years it's hard to not let that "retirement" word pop into my head every now and them...
Robert Steelman
Event Coordinator