Thomlinson first place in Fiddle Championship

Alex Thomlinson won first in the Junior/Junior Division of the State of Alabama Fiddle Championship.

Alex Thomlinson, of Suches, was named First Place winner in the Junior/Junior division of the State of Alabama Fiddle Championship in Huntsville, on April 28, 2007, earning the designation 'Alabama State Champion.' In addition, twelveyear old Alex is the current Beginning Fiddle Champion in Georgia, having won First Place in the Beginning Fiddle division at the Official Georgia State Fiddle Championship in Hiawassee in October 2006.

Winners in five age categories shared $5000 in prize money, with 5 prizes offered in each division. Trophies were also awarded to the winners by contest co-chairmen Dr. Mark Ralph, and State Representative Mike Ball.

The Official Alabama State Fiddle Championship is one segment of the annual Panoply Arts Festival, held the last full weekend in April in beautiful Big Spring International Park in downtown Huntsville. The festival presents a wide array of performances, exhibits, demonstrations, workshops and hands-on activities promoting and enhancing the arts. The Global Village presents displays provided by countries around the globe, and the food court features international cuisine authentically prepared by representatives of diverse cultures. Many styles of music are featured in various areas of the park including jazz, blues, zydeco, bluegrass, various forms of classical, as well as fiddling.

In 2006 the 3-day festival was attended by over 75,000 persons. This year, over 70,000 people passed through the gates of the event on Saturday alone. The Southeast Tourism Society ranks Panoply among their "Top Twenty Events."