a freshman at UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Elizabeth Burchette of Louisburg as the children’s champion. First-place winner in the allied arts was Dick Shaw, Apopka, Florida, and the youngest (5 years) whistler was Michael Caldwell, Bunn, North Carolina. First-place classics went to Tanguay Desgagne, and first-place pops went to Jason Serinus. Second-place teenage champ was Jeff Tillitt and second-place children’s champ was Kirsten Davis, both from Louisburg. Mark Hodge, Louisburg, was second-place to Rose in popular music, and Jeff Tillitt was second-place to Rose in classical music.
The Lillian Williams Award was received by Jason Serinus, and the Hall of Fame honors went to famed turn-of-the century New York whistler Alice Shaw. Bob Larson, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Betty Sylliaasen, Sacramento, California, were directors of the National School for Whistlers. Jack Cohen, classical whistler, and Davis Joachim, guitarist, Montreal, Canada, were distinguished concert guests for April 23, 1993. They also served as judges with Greg Nye Smith, Raleigh, North Carolina; Edith Anderson, Louisburg; and Cenieth Elmore, Franklinton, North Carolina. Mike Caplan of WTVD-TV, Durham, North Carolina was the MC. The competition and concert were held in the new Louisburg College Auditorium, and an arts and crafts show was held outside. The museum display was in Gallery A of the Auditorium.
Children’s Duet is Champion
In 1994, the children’s national champions were a duet, Tim Pender and Charlie Glover from Franklinton, North Carolina, and second-place was Steven Floyd from Bunn. Teenage national champion was Suzanne Stafford, Louisburg, and second-place was Tony Woodard, Epsom, North Carolina. Together the teenage champs received the Allied Arts Award. First-place for the national adult grand champion was Chris Ullman of Washington. D.C., and second-place was Tanguay Desgagne of Quebec, Canada. Third-place was Marge Carlson from Fullerton, California.
Receiving the Lillian Williams Award for distinction in the art of entertainment was Mitch Hider from Monroe, Oregon. The highest award, Hall of Fame, for a whistler of international recognition went to Roy Thoreson, from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Directors of the National School for Whistlers were Mitch Hider and Milton Briggs, the latter from Carmichael, California. Performing in concert on April 22, with the Bill Evans Dance Company, | | were Roy Thoreson and Bob Larson, the latter from Mesa, Arizona. The year's museum display was in Gallery B of the College Auditorium, the Music Festival was in the adjoining Norris Theatre, and the Arts and Crafts Show was outdoors. Susan Dahlin, CBS-TV Programmer with WRALTV in Raleigh, was Convention MC, and Chris Ullman and Suzanne Stafford performed on the Tonight Show in Los Angeles, May 10, 1994.
Record Number of Contestants
A record number of 30 adults and 30 teenagers and children were the finalists in competition for 1995. Tanguay Desgagne, 34 , of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, puckered his way to the grand championship of the 22nd NWC in the College Auditorium April 22. In addition, he achieved first-place in classical music and first-place in popular music. (He was the 1993 grand champion.) Chris Ullman of Washington, D.C., won second-place as grand champion. Third-place grand champion was Thomas Bryant of Key West, Florida. National teenage champion was Suzanne Stafford, 17, of Louisburg. Kirsten Davis, 10, from Franklin County, won the children’s championship. More than twenty-five other awards were presented, five of which were in allied arts where whistling is used as a theatrical and advertising medium. Both Bryan and Desgagne won awards in this category.
The Lillian Williams Award, honoring the entertainer of the year, went to Betty Sylliaasen of Sacramento, California. Two Hall of Fame Awards honored the late Elmer Mullen of Bunn, North Carolina, and Ronnie Ronalde, one of the world’s great living whistlers, from New Zealand. Fred Newman was MC. The National School for Whistlers was directed by Mitch Hider. The National Whistlers Museum Display was in the lobby of the College Auditorium. Distinguished concert guests were baritone Steven Herbst and pianist David Fairchild, both from New York City.
International Convention
Always welcoming whistlers from around the world, the 1996 Convention was attended by Ronnie Ronalde, from Silverdale, New Zealand, as a guest performer. He is one of the world’s most distinguished whistlers, has performed in Radio City Music Hall and Toronto’s 25, 000-seat Grandstand, and among his CDs is “Around the World on a Whistle.” At the Convention he received his 1995 Hall of Fame Award. Attending from Germany, was contestant | |
