Judges

Dale Morris Jr.
​Dallas, TX

Dale Morris Jr. Is certainly no stranger to the fiddle contest world. Although now retired from competitive playing,he still continues to judge and teach workshops and private lessons. Dale began playing fiddle at the age of three. By age 10, he started playing professionally and has continued to do so ever since. 
He has won many contests throughout his career including the National Oldtime Fiddle Championship,Grand Master Fiddler Championship ,and the Texas State Fiddle Championship. He has won these multiple times.  Dale has also performed and/or recorded,and toured with many different artists including Ray Price,Merle Haggard,Bob Wills' Texas Playboys,John Mayall,Willie Nelson,Marty Stuart,Charley Pride,Boxcar Willie,Little Jimmy Dickens,Wanda Jackson,Leona Williams,Chuck Rainey,and many more. He has his own trio group, The Dale Morris Jr. Trio. They play multiple styles of music and perform at concerts,festivals,private parties,etc. Dale recently started touring with 1990's Country singer Tracy Byrd over a year and a half ago. When not on the road,he is in high demand as a producer,arranger,and studio musician as well as being a composer writing many different styles of music. Lately Dale has been writing music for motion pictures and commercials. He is in both the Texas Fiddlers Hall of Fame and National Oldtime Fiddlers Hall of Fame in Weiser, Idaho. With over 42 years experience as a professional musician, he is certainly more than qualified to judge any music competition. 

Dan Emert
Walla Walla, WA

Dan Emert has been playing fiddle, mandolin, and guitar for over 40 years.  He has placed highly in many contests around the region including Oregon State, Washington State 2017 Adult Champion, Colorado State Adult champion, the Northwest Regionals, Western Open Junior and Adult Champion, and 2 National Championships at the National Oldtime Fiddler’s Contest in Weiser, Idaho (Junior – 1986, Adult – 2006).  
Dan has been a clinical microbiologist for 25 years and currently resides in Walla Walla, Washington with his wife Lorie and 2 sons, Connor, and Mason.​His philosophy about fiddling is straightforward. Technical proficiency (intonation, accuracy) is very important. But even more essential is rhythm.  As dance music, traditional fiddling must make your toes tap. You MUST find that groove to make it all work. He also prefers a wide variety of different tunes in different styles. Play to your strengths and most importantly, HAVE FUN!!!! Have a great time and best of luck to all of this year’s contestants.

Tonya Hopkins
​Porter, TX

Tonya started fiddling at the age of 8.  She started under the instruction of a man named Denzil Marker in Challis, Idaho.  He was a very generous man who wanted to keep the old-time fiddling tradition alive by introducing young people to the instrument and the sub-culture of contest fiddling.  He took Tonya to her first Idaho State Contest in Lewiston, Idaho, and she was hooked! She spent her teenage years obsessed with many Texas fiddle players, and spent countless hours trying to learn their renditions of great tunes. 
Tonya has won many competitions through the years including being the first female to win the TOTFA State Contest.  She taught private lessons for many years, but now teaches English in the public school system in Texas. As a judge, Tonya looks for feel and control of the tune. She likes to hear players use their backup to create a nice groove and tempo that compliments their style of play, but not push them beyond their comfort zone.

Staff Guitarists

Anthony Mature

New Waverly, TX
A long career as a much sought after accompanist has garnered its share of awards and accomplishments for Anthony. Besides being in constant demand by top fiddlers around the country, Anthony has been the State Champion Accompanist in Hallettsville, TOTFA Champion Accompanist and National Champion Accompanist in Weiser, Idaho - all multiple times. He has helped champion fiddlers to win all of the major contest events including the National Championship in Weiser, Idaho, the World Championship in Crockett, Texas, the Grand Masters Championship in Nashville, Tennessee and, of course, the Texas State Championship in Hallettsville, TX. In addition to fiddle contests, Anthony has performed on many stages across the U.S. including WSM’s “Grand Ole Opry” several times. Anthony has been a staff guitarist at many contests including The Grand Masters, Colorado State Championships (10 years), and now, The Washington State Fiddle Championships for his second year. It is always an honor and privilege for fiddlers' to have the opportunity to have Anthony back them up in our contest. 

Hyatt Hopkins

Porter, TX
Hyatt Hopkins was born into a fiddling family and has had the good fortune of growing up and being around the best fiddle and guitar players in the country.  Growing up in Texas, he spent many weekends as a young child going to contests and jam sessions, both in and out of the state.  But  it wasn’t until the summer of 2008, that Hyatt picked up the guitar.  It immediately became the true passion in his life, and he has never looked back.  Hyatt’s style of play has been most influenced by Royce Franklin, Betty Solomon, Anthony Mature, Matt Hartz, Ray Franklin, Jim Reina, Rex Gillentine, and recordings of Omega Burden.  Along with contest fiddling backup, Hyatt also really loves Jazz and Western Swing.   

Master of Ceremonies (MC)

Nikole Scribner-Trout

Denver, CO
Nikole Scribner Trout is thrilled to be MCing the Washington State Fiddle Championships for the second year. Nikole has worked as a contest MC for over ten years, and has MC'd the National Fiddle Championships in Weiser, ID for the past three years, as well as numerous contests throughout her home state of Colorado.
She was introduced to the world of Texas-style fiddle contests by her best friend, fiddler Aarun Carter, and Aarun's mom, contest chairman Denice Carter. Nikole immediately fell in love with old time fiddling and the people in the fiddle community, and threw herself into working to preserve the art form. After dabbling in playing fiddle and rhythm guitar, Nikole found her niche as a contest MC.
Nikole works as a fraud and compliance officer for a credit union in Denver, CO. In her free time, she enjoys writing, knitting, playing guitar, and cooking for her family and friends. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her beloved family and three adorable dogs.
A fiddle contest burnout by the time he reached his late teens, Grant Wheeler (also known as “The Big Wheel”) puts his fiddle away in a case with the full intention of never taking it out again. 27 years later for reasons that remain a mystery to him to this day, the Big Wheel’s fiddle came out in the light of day and it started getting played again. Grant vowed that his experience with fiddling and fiddle contests was going to be different this second time around. 
​Emphasis was going to be placed on fun and fellowship. This turned out to be a winning formula... because, let's face it... the Big Wheel is a lot of fun and everybody loves him. Grant believes one of the most important ingredients of a successful contest is having a master of ceremonies who is knowledgeable about fiddling and fiddlers and who can entertain as well as enlighten a fiddle contest audience. Which is why he is such a huge fan of Mistress of Ceremonies Nikole Scribner Trout and is so honored to be her wing man/ pinch hitter/ sidekick. Sometimes fiddle contests can be too serious ​and somber for their own good. Which is why Grant gives a big tip of the hat to contest organizer Denice Carter who understands that excitement, humor, and spontaneity are good for the health of a contest. Not only does she encourage hootin’ and hollerin’ from an audience... she demands it! So, if a fiddler does something on stage that excites you, and you feel a “Yee-Haw!” building up way down deep inside...don’t keep it locked up. Suppressing a Yee-Haw, as everybody knows, is un-American and bad for your health. Let it out!