About FiddleFest
Roanoke FiddleFest is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of traditional bluegrass and string music.The centerpiece of the FiddleFest organization is a festival held in the late summer at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. The festival's mission is to provide the venue for performance, discussion, instruction, and preservation of this uniquely American art form.
FiddleFest was started in 2003 by Mike Conner, a Roanoke business owner and bluegrass lover. Since then Mike, his wife Debbie, and a team of dedicated volunteers have worked to make FiddleFest a premiere music event in the Roanoke Valley. FiddleFest has brought to its Tinker Beach stage a variety of bluegrass artists, from legends such as Tony Rice, Charlie Waller, and genre icon Ralph Stanley, to modern acts like Cherryholmes, The Grascals and Mountain Heart. FiddleFest also showcases local talent from the Roanoke and Southwest Virginia areas.
Workshops and Jams
FiddleFest sets itself apart from other festivals through the the availability of one-on-one opportunities with the artists. During the day, workshops are held by the performing artists. Huge open jams are hosted on the campus to allow festival participants to jam together with the artists. Festival attendees can meet the artists, discuss music with them, or just play a few songs together! FiddleFest provides aspiring musicians the once in a lifetime opportunity to learn directly from the professionals in the business today.» Learn more about FiddleFest Workshops
The FiddleFest Board of Directors
The FiddleFest Board of Directors is a governing board of individuals that makes decisions regarding FiddleFest's direction and mission.|
Sandra Neighbors, Vice-Chair Debbie Conner, Secretary / Treasurer |
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Estelle N. Avner Robert L.A. Keely, M.D. John Lawless Gene McGuire |
James C. Sears, Ph.D. Herschel Sizemore Ralph Smith |
Partner Organizations
The Roanoke Valley Wine Festival is an event that benefits FiddleFest. The Roanoke Valley Wine Festival features select Virginia wineries, wine tasting, wine seminars, live music, local vendors, premiere caterers, plus artists and merchants from the Roanoke area.» Learn more about the Roanoke Valley Wine Festival.
Proceeds from FiddleFest
FiddleFest is a non profit organization. Community enrichment and development are at the heart of our goals. In addition to preserving American string music, proceeds from FiddleFest benefit the organizations listed below.Hollins University
One of Hollins University's goals is to raise both national and community awareness of its facilities. Named number one for quality in the Princeton Review, Hollins believes that hosting FiddleFest will expose many potential students to the University, from all areas of the world, and that exposure will translate into a varied student body.» Learn more about Hollins University
Center in the Square
Center has served the Roanoke Valley and the surrounding area since 1986, providing a rent-free home to Mill Mountain Theatre, the Art Museum, History Museum, Planetarium, and Science Museum. Since that time hundreds of thousands of people have passed through its doors for learning and enrichment.» Learn more about Center in the Square
Rotary Club of Roanoke
The Roanoke Rotary has long served this community, being chartered from the Richmond club in 1914. Countless hours of volunteer work and hundreds of thousands of dollars have been donated to the clubs efforts over the last eighty years. For every organization the club supports, there are many others for which funds are not available. Its goal is to expand the support of other deserving groups in the community.» Learn more about Rotary International
