Robert Stemmons, Jenks, Oklahoma (third-place); Kilgour Shives, Vancouver, Canada (second-place); and Christopher Ullman, Arlington, Virginia (first-place). In allied arts female winners were Patsy Ediger (second-place) and Mimi Drummond (first-place). Male winners were Howlett Smith, Los Angeles, California (second-place), and Robert Stemmons (first-place).
James Gardner, from Bateau Bay, Australia, was the contestant who had traveled the farthest; Christopher Ullman was the Lillian Williams Award winner for the whistling entertainer of the year, designated by the board of directors of the Arts Council; and the highest award of all-the Hall of Fame Award went to Betty Sylliaasen from Sacramento, California.
Convention’s 27th Anniversary
International whistler Barry Rector of Coquitlam, B.C. Canada was the director of the International School for Whistlers during the 27th International Whistlers Convention April 13-16, 2000. Master of Ceremonies was Mitch Hider from from Monroe, Oregon. Blair Haggett, from Alexandria,Virginia was the Children’s Grand Champion, a repeat for three years. Second-place in the Competition was Joseph Cutchins, III from Franklinton, N.C., and third-place was Laura Green from Raleigh, N.C., Teenage Grand Champion was Jeff Tillitt from Louisburg. (There was not a second-place or third-place champion). Adult female champion was Emily Eagen, International Grand Champion from Cincinnati, Ohio. Second-place was Laura Loftsgaarden from Los Angeles, California, and third-place was Norma Pugh from Austin, Texas. Adult male champion was Chris Ullman, International Grand Champion from Arlington, Virginia. Second-place was Michael Cooney from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and Third-place was Yoshiharo Takamoku from Osaka, Japan. (Takamoku received the Town of Louisburg Award for having traveled the farthest to the Convention.) Michael Cooney received a special award in honor of his outstanding production of Millennium World Whistling Championship | | September 11, 1999 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Patty Ediger from Dayton, Oregon won the Lillian Williams Entertainment Award. The highest award presented was the Hall of Fame Award to Marge Carlson of Fullerton, California. She died in September, 1999 at the age 73. She began whistling at age three and toured internationally as a concert singer and whistler.
International News Coverage
The 28th International Whistlers Convention was held April 19-21 in 2001. Mitch Hider of Monroe, Oregon was the lead instructor for the International School for Whistlers and Master of Ceremonies for the Convention. The International male grand champions were Michael Cooney, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (1st place); Steven Herbst, New York City (2nd place); and Kilgour Shives, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (3rd place). International female grand champions were Emily Eagen, Cincinnati, Ohio (1st place); Mary Frances Herndon, Sedalia, Missouri (2nd Place); and Stephanie Von Furstenberg, Zurich, Switzerland (3rd place).
Teenage champions were Joshua Moore (male), Castalia, and Christian Leonard (female), Louisburg, both from North Carolina. Among the children’s championships were Tre Cutchins (1st place) Franklinton, Casey Aycock, Louisburg (2nd place); and Laura Ann Green (3rd place), all from North Carolina. The 2001 Hall of Fame Award was presented to Mary Frances Herndon of Sedalia, Missouri; and the Lillian Williams Award (for long-term professional performances) was presented to Michael Cooney of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Stephan ie Von Furstenberg was recognized for traveling the longest distance and received the Town of Louisburg Award. The Washington Post provided international coverage.
The 29th International Whistlers Convention was held April 17-21, 2002. The winners for adult International Grand Champions are Steven Herbst, male, 45, from New York City, New York, a vice president of Bernard Hodes Group (an advertising agency). His winning numbers were | |
