WACO fiddles their way to the top

DES MOINES — The WACO Community School District is beaming with pride after a handful of their own showed off their fiddling skills among the best fiddlers from across the Midwest over three days at the Iowa State Fair Fiddle Contest beginning Aug. 9 and walked away with two noteworthy awards.

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Holly Reyner, the WACO CSD Orchestra teacher for fourth through 12th grade, earned the title of Fiddle Grand Champion.

In addition to Reyner’s success at the Iowa State Fair, her students Mya Donaldson, Hunter Wilson, Brinley Conrad, and Reese Roth also competed at the fair’s Fiddle Contest. Each student performed three memorized pieces including a hoe down, waltz, and tune of choice in front of hundreds of people.

Roth even walked away from the contest with third place in the 13—17-year-old age division.

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This was not Reyner’s first time earning high marks in this contest. Like Roth, Reyner placed in the top performances for the 13-17-year-old age division in 2016. Reyner walked away from that contest with first place for her division.

Her love of music and the fiddle followed Reyner as she then went on to attend Monmouth College where she studied music and obtained her K-12 teacher licensure. She then took her passion for music to the WACO CSD which moved its orchestra teaching position to full time due to the continued growth in their music program in 2021. As a new graduate from Monmouth College, Reyner happily stepped into this position.

According to WACO CSD’s introduction of Reyner in 2021, “Her passion for music, her love of students, and her depth of knowledge were standout reasons why she was chosen to lead our program!’

While Reyner says many ask about the difference between a violin and a fiddle, Reyner says the real difference is just the style in which the artist plays.

“With violin you have to play what is on the page,” Reyner explained. “With fiddle, you have a lot more freedom to add ornamentation or to vary the music, so it feels like a much more personal experience.”

As an experienced musician and director of fourth grade through high school orchestra students at WACO Community School District, Reyner admits that the quicker pace of playing the fiddle and adding those ornamental variations can start off intimidating.

“But once you get into it, it is really fun to get to add those sorts of elements,” she said. “So, as students go through it, I think it gets easier.”

As it gets easier, Reyner says these difficult elements of playing fiddle are often the parts that make playing the instrument fun. Due to all the opportunities for personalization and growth with the fiddle, Reyner believes it allows musicians to never stop learning.

For those considering pursuing playing the fiddle, Reyner encourages them to make a commitment knowing it could take a few years before they begin to hear the sounds they’re desiring to play.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com