Deja Vu ala Winfield

**Mike Snyder** · Sep-09-2009, 6:28pm

Scott T has (again) us covered like a well worn blanket, but information is good, so, what's you revised plan for Sogfest........er.........Winfield. I planned to load the truck in the morning after a 12 hour shift at the hospital then head out. Thought I'd help the Brigadoon faithful with set-up, then take a nap. Now, it seems, I'm mowing the yard and puttering until Saturday. Very depressing. How 'bout you?

**Michael Ramsey** · Sep-21-2009, 7:53am

I've never to bee to Winfield (though I hope to some time) but I can be proud for North Carolina today. 18 year old Bryan McDowell from the Asheville, NC area, is headed back this way with the 2009 championship trophies for guitar, mandolin AND fiddle!

We've been knowing this guy since he was a little whipper snapper (about 8-10 years old) and he's a fine young man, and evidently, a pretty good player ON 3 INSTRUMENTS!

I hope to see hime next week during the IBMA.

**AlanN** · Sep-21-2009, 8:10am

Unreal for this young Tar Heel!

Michael, do you know what tunes he picked?

**JoeD** · Sep-21-2009, 9:48am

Holy smokes! Has anyone ever won all three in the same year before? Maybe Mark O'Connor?

**Michael Ramsey** · Sep-21-2009, 12:54pm

I do not know what Bryan played for his contest tunes. I happened to be scanning the Walnut Valley Festival site this AM before work, and saw that he had won all three of these contests.

He's a fine young guy, whom I've known for about 10 years. Has an older sister who is an awesome fiddler in her own right. They took fidddle lessons from Arvil Freeman in Asheville for years.

A smart kid, with a good head on his shoulders. We all should be hearing more from him for years to come.

**Mike Snyder** · Sep-22-2009, 11:13pm

Unless my memory is failing me, Bryan played very traditional stuff in the contest. I'm positive that one tune was Red Haired Boy. I believe that he played Salt Creek and Wheel Hoss, also. I was up close and front and center, and can tell you the boy was closer to flawless than we've seen at Winfield for a long time. Unofficial scorers had him from 93.5% to 96% of perfection with higher scores in the second round than in the first. Out of 21 contestants, only six scored above 90%.
Instant legend.

**AlanN** · Sep-23-2009, 6:23am

Amazing.

To use these ultra-common tunes as a conduit to demonstrate his mastery, simply amazing.

Again, goes to show - it ain't the instrument brand or really the tune. It's the picker.

**Bob Gray** · Sep-23-2009, 10:47am

Verified, no one else has done this before. I saw him win the flatpicking guitar contest and when he was presented his trophy and guitar, they announced that he is the first person in history to win three contests at the same festival. Another first I believe, is that the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners of the flatpicking guitar contest all play in the same band.

**OKMike** · Sep-23-2009, 8:09pm

Seemed like a fine young man, thanked his parents and his Lord and Savior after he won the mandolin contest.

**Mike Snyder** · Sep-23-2009, 10:04pm

It was fairly obvious, later in the day (Sat.), that momma had NO intention of letting young Mr. McDowell get a big head. The three guitar flat-pick finalists and an also-ran were picking at the Mass. Street Music display and they were scorching it. The Collings mandolin that Bryan won is to die for. Very nice, normal young men who happen to be virtuoso musicians. Can't wait for next year. The mandolin and flatpick guitar competitions were notable for increased Monroe content this year. Monroes' Hornpipe, Wheel Hoss, Old Dangerfield.

**momma mcdowell** · Sep-30-2009, 8:34pm

Hi All, Thank you for all the kind comments directed toward Bryan. As his momma, I can certainly vouch for his fine character and that all the comments were well deserved, as were his winnings. He has worked hard for many years and now all that work seems to be paying off. He's always been a humble young man and has always appreciated and been grateful for everything the Lord gives him. It's certainly never necessary for me to "keep him humble".

For more clarification, a triple win has never been done before at Winfield. However, both Mark O'Connor and Randy Howard won two instrument categories in the same year. Mark, the fiddle and guitar, and Randy, the fiddle and mandolin, I believe. We checked the Winfield archives.

And yes, Bryan McDowell, Brandon Davis, and Eric Hardin are all in the same band as well. Keep and eye out for their new websites coming soon. Bryan will have a new site, as will the band "Second Circle". We will post the info on Bryan and Emma's current site as it comes available.