LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Three young fiddlers from Lake County made a fantastic showing at the recent Cloverdale Fiddle Contest.

Fiddlers travel from many parts of northern California to attend this large contest and there is much competition.

Rafael Contreras, 8, of Lower Lake played with such energy and precision that he received cheers from the audience and won first place in the Pee Wee division.

He won a medal and a cash prize, and even got his picture taken with the mayor of Cloverdale.

He is the student of Sue Condit and is a member of the Konocti Fiddle Club and the Clear Lake Performing Arts Youth Orchestra. He was accompanied by Sue Condit and Andi Skelton on guitar.

Clayton Rudiger and Lars Tisell entered in the Junior Division (13-17) and played amazing sets of three tunes each.

Both boys made the finals to play in the second round. Lars placed fourth and Clayton sixth, with only a few points difference in their scores. They also teamed up to enter the Twin Fiddle class and did not make the finals, but played well.

These fiddle contests offer a great challenge to fiddlers, since each contestant must be prepared to play a possible six to seven tunes in each division.

In addition, the Twin division required a possible four to five tunes. Tunes must be memorized and cannot be repeated, so it represents much preparation by these talented contestants.

Clayton was accompanied by Mark Rudiger and Lars by Austin and Jeanine Ison (guitar/accordion).

Clayton and Lars are students of Andi Skelton and are also members of the Konocti Fiddle Club and the CLPA Youth Orchestra. Clayton is the current concertmaster of the orchestra.

These fiddlers are all members of the Konocti Fiddle Club, which is a Lake County group for all ages and all levels of fiddle players.

This group plays lively danceable folk tunes at festivals and other venues in Lake County. This group also works with Clear Lake Performing Arts to present in-school educational assemblies.

For info about the Fiddle Club, call Andi Skelton at 707-279-4336.

Most of the young fiddlers also play in the CLPA Youth Orchestra which will be playing at the Lake County Symphony Concert on May 13 and presenting a Spring Concert on June 10 at the Soper Reese Theatre.

Clear Lake Performing Arts is offering string instruction to all levels and ages in this county-wide orchestra.

If you are interested in joining the group or just want to learn to play a string instrument, call conductor Sue Condit at 707-533-9431.