LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Rafael Contreras, an 11-year-old fiddler from Lower Lake, won first place in the twin fiddle class at the recent Cloverdale Old Time Fiddle Festival.

Rafael was the only youth participant competing against adults in that class, and the competition was tough.

His partner in the twin class was his fiddle teacher, Andi Skelton from Kelseyville.

The contest is sponsored in part by the California State Fiddlers Association and contestants travel from all parts of California and beyond.

Rafael also entered a class in which he had to compete with much older players. He won his age group classes the last three years in a row, and the rules state that he has to step up to the next age group, so he was competing against 13- to 17-year-old fiddlers.

He won 4th place in that class out of about 15 entrants, so he took home 2 medals and lots of prize money that day.

Other fiddlers representing Lake County at the contest were Andi Skelton, who placed third in senior and waltz divisions, and Sue Condit who also placed in the top 5 in the twin fiddle category. Local guitarist Don Coffin won fourth in the accompanist category.

Rafael is very active in his school and community. He is a key member of the Konocti Fiddle Club under the direction of Skelton, and in the first violin section of the Lake County Symphony Association Youth Orchestra under the direction Condit.

The Youth Orchestra is presenting a Spring Concert at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport on June 7.

Rafael also plays the viola, and plays guitar in the Little Kids Rock group, a class before school with teacher, Bill Bordisso.

He attends Lower Lake Elementary, and has been on the Principal’s List for the past two trimesters.

This busy young man also participates in the Konocti Klogging Kids, an after school clogging class with Ms. John, and is a member of the Cobb 4-H Club and holds the office of treasurer.

As a member of the California State Old Time Fiddle Association District 10 – which encompasses three northern counties – Rafael and his brother, Christian, on percussion, appeared with that group in an educational school assembly recently in Calpella.

They also will appear at the Bluegrass Jamboree Concert at the Soper Reese Theatre in September.