Press Release May 1, 2010

Bryan McDowell wins 2010 Merlefest Guitar Championship

After judging the mandolin competition on Thursday, Bryan went on to claim another win on Friday at the 2010 Merlefest Guitar Championship. As competition winners always perform Saturday on the Cabin Stage, Bryan McDowell - 2010 Flatpick Guitar champ, Nick Keen - 2010 Mandolin champ, and Jonathan Dillon - 2010 Banjo champ, dedicated their set in memory of their pickin' buddy, young Houston Caldwell who passed away the evening before.     Photo courtesy of Gary Alter Photography

Press Release October 25, 2009

Bryan McDowell Takes Home "Another" Triple Win

Bryan McDowell of Canton, NC, takes home "another" triple win. "Georgia's Official State Fiddlers' Convention" was held this past weekend in Hiawassee, Georgia. Now 18 years of age, Bryan has attended and competed there for several years, but never did he expect the outcome of this years' competitions.

Bryan competed in the flatpick guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and bluegrass band categories. As the day went on, one by one, he "made the cut" from preliminaries to finals. And as the evening continued, he would soon become the 2009 Georgia Flatpick Guitar Champion, 2009 Georgia Mandolin Champion, and 2009 Georgia Junior Fiddle Champion as well as the 2009 Georgia Fiddle King. Bryan also played fiddle for "Lost Horizon", the 2009 Georgia Bluegrass Band Champions headed up by Brian Stephens of Monroe, GA.

You can read more at www.townscountyherald.net , October 22, 2009 edition. All in all, it was another great weekend for Bryan. However, we all missed the presence of James "Chief" Childers. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him as he recovers from his illness.

                            
               Bryan receiving "2009 Georgia State Fiddle King Award" from Barry Palmer

Press Releases from Winfield, Kansas

A First for the Walnut Valley Festival

   --- Bryan McDowell Wins "3" Coveted National Walnut Valley Music Championships

                         2009 Walnut Valley National Flat Pick Guitar Championship
                         2009 Walnut Valley Mandolin Championship
                  and 2009 Walnut Valley Old-Time Fiddle Championship

                

Winfield, Kansas…A young 18-year old student and musician came to Winfield and the Walnut Valley Festival for the first time just a week ago. Bryan McDowell and his parents came all the way from Canton, NC. He had received encouragement to come to the Festival from one of his fellow band members, Brandon Davis of Independence, VA. Not only did Bryan enter one contest he entered three of the eight contests at the Festival. The first contest was on Friday, September 18, the Walnut Valley Mandolin Contest. Bryan was sitting down when the final two places were announced backstage on Stage 4. When second place was announced, McDowell put his hands to his face and bent down. He knew he had placed first in this contest. This was the first of three times his name would be announced as the first place winner. Bryan started playing the mandolin just seven years ago. As a matter of fact for the first six years he borrowed his sister’s mandolin. But a year ago she got married and moved away so in 2008 Bryan had to buy his own mandolin.

Four hours later, Bryan was again backstage at Stage 4. He had made the cut to the final five in the Walnut Valley Old Time Fiddle Contest. After playing two more songs, the winners were announced and again the name Bryan McDowell came out on top. Another instrument was won by this young man. Bryan actually plays the fiddle in the current band he plays with, “Second Circle.”

Now fast forward to Saturday morning at the Walnut Valley Festival. The list of thirty-seven contestants in the National Flat Pick Guitar Championships includes that of Bryan McDowell from Canton, NC. Out of these contestants, could it be possible that Bryan would end up on top again? Odds perhaps seemed against that as some former champions were included in that list. When the cut to the final five was made, there was Bryan McDowell again. Roy Curry who has placed many times in this contest and the oldest among the top five commented, “You just gotta slow these young guys down.” Two more songs were played and the name Bryan McDowell was announced as the winner in the prestigious National Flat Pick Guitar Contest at the Walnut Valley Festival. In sports, three-feats are often mentioned, but in the contests here at the Festival? There have been a few times when contestants have entered more than one contest at the Festival and have won two first places, but never has an individual won three of the contests. This was a Walnut Valley Festival first. Ironic as it may seem, second and third places in this contest were won by best friends of Bryan, Brandon Davis of Independence, VA (the person who urged Bryan to come and enter the contests) placed second, and Eric Hardin of Warrensville, NC placed third. Not only are they best of friends, they are members of the same band, “Second Circle.”

In an interview after this contest, it is noted that Bryan McDowell is really a humble young man. When accepting his last first place prize, Bryan acknowledged his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as the one who provided him the talent to accomplish what he has done. When asking his two closest friends, Brandon and Eric, what kind of person Bryan is, they concurred that Bryan is a true genuine humble person. The one thing these two commented on was the fact that in the National Flat Pick Guitar contest they won’t have to put up with Bryan next year since he won’t be eligible to compete again in the contests he won for five years. In this conversation with the three of them, it was noted that in the band, “Second Circle,” Bryan actually plays fiddle, Brandon plays guitar and Eric plays banjo. Other members of their band include Melissa King, Chase Johner and Tracy Burchum. If you are ever in the area where this band is playing, check them out, they’re one of the few bands to have some of the top acoustic instrument players in the United States.

Has it sunk in to Bryan Mc Dowell that he has set a record here at the Walnut Valley Festival? It is doubtful, but it will in the near future. Bryan will probably remain the humble young man that he is! The Festival sends “Best Wishes” to a fine young man!

2009 National Flat Pick Guitar Champions

The National Flat Pick Guitar champions were crowned here at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS on the afternoon of September 19, 2009. In this contest there were 37 contestants from 19 states and from Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. When the cut to five was made the states of two from North Carolina, and one each from Utah, Virginia, and Tennessee. First place was won by Bryan McDowell of Canton, NC. Bryan is an 18-year old high school senior. Interestingly enough, Bryan also took first place in the Walnut Valley Mandolin contest and the Walnut Valley Old Time Fiddle contest. These contests were held on Friday. This is the first time one individual has placed first in three contests here at the Walnut Valley Festival in the same year. It is ironic that second and third places in this contest were won by close friends of Bryan’s.

It seems as though they all play in the same band called “Second Circle” Second place was won by Brandon Davis of Independence, VA. Brandon is an IT Specialist who placed 3rd in this competition in 2008. Third place was awarded to Eric Hardin of Warrensville, NC. Eric installs and finishes hardwood floors. Eric placed first in the banjo competition in Winfield in 2004. In the band they play with, Bryan plays fiddle, Brandon plays guitar and Eric plays banjo, but this goes to show you that they can play each others instruments too. 

                                       

Pictured L to R: Eric Hardin of Warrensville, NC (3rd Place), Bryan McDowell of Canton, NC (1st Place), and Brandon Davis of Independence, VA (2nd Place)

2009 Walnut Valley Old Time Fiddle Champions

The Walnut Valley Old Time Fiddle contest was completed on Friday, September 18th here at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS. There were 22 participants in this contest and they came from 15 different states as well as the United Kingdom. The cut to the final five found contestants from Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, and two from Oklahoma. First place was won by a young man from Canton, NC who earlier in the day also won the Walnut Valley Mandolin contest. Bryan McDowell. Bryan is currently a high school senior who loves music and history. He currently plays in a band called “Second Circle” and they recently were named the 2009 Galax Bluegrass Band. Second place went to another high school student who is no stranger to this contest. James Schlender of Bozeman, MT placed second in 2005 and third in 2006. He to like Bryan plays guitar, mandolin and bass. When not playing fiddle, James like to play ultimate Frisbee. Youth also prevailed for third place as Eric Dysart of Disney, OK like the other winners in this contest is a high school student. He too has placed third in this contest in earlier years. Eric plays in a band called “Rockin Acoustic Circus” where he is the lead singer and fiddle player. 

                                                   

Pictured L to R: Eric Dysart of Disney, OK ( 3rd Place), Bryan McDowell of Canton, NC (1st Place), and James Schlender of Bozeman, MT

2009 Walnut Valley Mandolin Champions

The Walnut Valley Mandolin Champions were just crowned here at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS. There were 21 who played in this contest. Those 21 represented 18 different states as well as Japan and UK. The final five were from Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and the United Kingdom. First place went to an 18 year old senior in high school from Canton, NC. Bryan McDowell seven years ago borrowed his sister’s mandolin and learned to play it. She just got married so he had to buy one of his own. He also plays fiddle and guitar and will enter these contests here at the Walnut Valley Festival. Josh Bailey from Victoria, TX took 2nd Place in this contest, the same as he did last year. Josh is currently working construction but hopes to attend college later. Josh is a member of the Bailey Family Band. Third place went to Rex Preston who was attending this year’s Walnut Valley Festival for the first time. While planning to attend the IBMA Conference he noticed the information on the Festival here in Winfield and thought “O what the heck … why not come and enter the mandolin contest.” Rex is a university student majoring in music and plays in a band called “The Scoville Units.”

                       

Pictured above L-R: Rex Preston from Bath, United Kingdom ( 3rd Place), Bryan McDowell of Canton, NC (1st Place), and Josh Bailey of Victoria, TX (2nd Place)

"The Guide" (Waynesville, NC)

McDowell wins national music championships
Written by The Mountaineer
Monday, 19 October 2009 17:42

Bryan McDowell, an 18-year-old senior and musician from Canton, traveled to Winfield, Kansas, for the Walnut Valley Festival and returned with three national championships.
McDowell and his parents were encouraged to visit the festival by one of his fellow band members, Brandon Davis of Independence, Virginia. McDowell entered three of the festival’s eight contests and won all three.
“It was really incredible,” said McDowell. “Honestly, I was going out there for the fun of it this year. Just winning one would have been something special to me. To walk away with three, I don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet.”
McDowell entered the Walnut Valley Mandolin Contest Sept. 18. The contest featured 21 contestants from 18 states, Japan and the United Kingdom. McDowell was sitting down when the final two places were announced backstage on Stage 4. When second place was announced, McDowell put his hands to his face and bent down. He knew he had won.
Four hours later, McDowell made the final five in the Walnut Valley Old-Time Fiddle Contest, which featured 22 contestants from 15 states and the United Kingdom. After playing two more songs, McDowell won again. It was his second win in a fiddle contest.
Thirty-seven contestants from 19 states, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia participated in the National Flat Pick Guitar Championships Sept. 19. McDowell made the cut again and won after two more songs. His band mates Davis and Eric Hardin of Warrensville finished second and third, respectively. Davis finished third last year, and Hardin won the contest in 2004.
“It was pretty neat to be up there in the guitar contest,” said McDowell. “My buddies finished second and third and that was the icing on the cake.”
Through the years, a few contestants have entered more than one contest at the festival and won two first places. However, no one had ever won three contests before.
“When I won the first one, I wasn’t thinking ‘I’ve got to try for the next two,’” said McDowell. “I would have been happy placing or not placing. It’s the type of competition you don’t see everyday.
“After the first one, I was pretty elated. Not long after that, I had to get ready for the next one. I tried to stay focused, but by the third one it was just fun.”
McDowell will not be able to defend his wins, as winners aren’t eligible for those contests for five years. Still, he enjoyed the experience.
“It was pretty incredible to me,” he said. “There have been some phenomenal musicians to go out there and several to win two.
“I want to give full credit for this and thank my parents and my lord and savior Jesus Christ.”
McDowell said he also couldn’t have succeeded without Arvil Freeman, who “pretty much taught me anything and everything I needed to know, especially on fiddle,” Davis, who helped him know what to play and backed him up on guitar during Friday’s competitions, and Bob Thompson Guitars.
McDowell plays fiddle in Second Circle. Davis plays guitar, and Hardin plays banjo. Melissa King, Chase Johner and Tracy Burchum are also in the group. Second Circle is working on its first CD.
McDowell is also working on his own CD. His success at the Walnut Valley Festival has opened more doors, including the opportunity to play several gigs and workshops.
McDowell started playing fiddle when he was 5 and picked up mandolin at 11 and guitar at 12. When he was 8, he began playing with The McDowell Family Band at local churches. The band recorded two CDs.
When the family band stopped playing in 2008, McDowell and his sister, Emma, continued performing. Two of their songs were showcased at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Songwriter’s Showcase during the IBMA World of Bluegrass event last year.
Emma then married and moved out of state, and McDowell decided to concentrate on music and completing school. He’s weighing his options between college and doing studio work and shows after high school.
For more information, visit www.bryanmcdowellmusic.com . To hear McDowell’s music and see video clips, visit www.myspace.com/bryanmcdowellmusic or search “Bryan McDowell” on www.youtube.com .