Competitions
OIBF invites YOU to compete this year! Here are some previous winners. Visit our Youth Band and Youth Instrument Championship pages for all the rules and info you’ll need to prepare for the competition, sign up, and compete.
(see Youth Competition Registration & Contest rules here)
SCHEDULE: Saturday, October 14th, 2023
Registrations:
9:00 am – 9:45 pm: Youth BAND Competition Registration
9:00 am – 12:45 pm: Youth INSTRUMENT Competition Registration
Competitions:
10:00 am – Noon: Competition – Youth BAND
Noon: JAM – 3 chord jam for kids (warm up for your competition & have some fun!)
1:00 pm: Competition – Youth Instruments
BYRON BERLINE YOUTH INSTRUMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS. $1,800 Total prize money for the six Youth Instrument Championship contests: Guitar, Mandolin, Resonator Guitar, Fiddle, Banjo, and Upright Bass
On Saturday afternoon of the festival, the Byron Berline Youth Instrument Championship Contests are held for all Six of the Traditional Bluegrass Instruments in the Youth Tent. The young contestants are judged on their technical mastery of the Bluegrass instruments. Registration for the Instrument Championships is between 9:00 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. on the Saturday morning in the Youth Tent. The competition begins at 1:00 p.m. The performance level and enthusiasm of these youth musicians is impressive. IMPORTANT: Previous Youth Instrument Championship Winners are welcome and encouraged to compete in any or all of the competitions, for as many years as they want, as long as they comply with the rules stated on the OIBF website. Winning an instrument championship in a previous year’s competition does not prevent entering this year’s competitions for the same or any other instrument.
YOUTH BAND COMPETITION. Winners Take Home a Trophy And Get To Play On the Main Stage Saturday Evening!
On Saturday morning of the festival, a youth band competition is held in the Youth Tent. The youngsters are judged on their Bluegrass performance. The winners take home a trophy and get an opportunity to perform on the main stage prior to the Saturday evening performances. ATTENTION: Previous Youth Band Winners are welcome and encouraged to compete in the band contest for as many years as they want if they comply with the rules stated on the OIBF website.
Registration for the Youth Band Competition is between 9:00 a.m. and 9:45 p.m. on the Saturday morning at the Youth Tent. The competition begins at 10:00 a.m. The audience is always well-entertained by the future stars of bluegrass music! Please plan on attending and supporting this competition. performance. Several of our Youth Bands have gone on to become touring bands! Competition is a great way to get started! The winners take home a trophy and get an opportunity to perform on the main stage prior to the Saturday evening performances.
photos by Jill Heck
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Here are more of the talented young musicians who have competed at OIBF!
Youth Band Winner 2014, The Williamson Family Band, receiving their trophy from Competitions Chairman Ron Mashore.[/caption