Our judging panel for the 21st annual Colorado Fiddle Championships will include Katie Glassman, Luke Price and Carl Hopkins. We are proud to have secured such outstanding professionals to judges!
Katie Glassman, now living in Venice, CA is one of today’s leading Texas-style and Western Swing fiddlers. She’s an award-winning performer, champion improviser, and sought-after educator. A national Texas-style contest winner and longtime touring artist with The Western Flyers and her band Snapshot, she’s known for her soulful tone, inventive variations, and deep command of swing phrasing. Katie has performed and taught across the country, studied with many of the great Texas masters, and is the founder of Fiddle School, a thriving global learning community. Acclaimed for her clear methodology and creative approach, she helps fiddlers develop stylistic authenticity, improvisational fluency, and confidence onstage and off.
Luke Price is a multi-instrumentalist performer, composer, and studio musician based in Portland, OR. He has his roots in American fiddling and swing traditions, which have influenced his rhythm, taste, and style as they have spread into Soul, Jazz, Pop, and Americana. Luke brings a unique voice to any music he plays, whether he’s on the fiddle, electric guitar, or singing.
Growing up in Boise, Idaho, Luke began competing in fiddle contests and playing around the country. He’s won a plethora of contests, awards, and scholarships. He is the current, and 5-time Grand National Fiddle Champion. His love for rhythm and improvisation born out of these traditional music styles led him to Boston, MA to attend The Berklee College of Music, where he met his now wife and musical partner, Rachael Price, to form their Soul Pop band, “Love, DEAN.” After graduation, they moved to Portland, OR where they continue to play, teach, and write.
Luke has played with a variety of amazing musicians, and always tends to bring some good times to any music he is making. He’s known for his taste, rhythm, tight harmonies, and inventive ideas. He has toured, played, and recorded with folks including: Tony Furtado, Scott Law, Jesse Harper (of Love Canon), Stephen Malkmus, Lee Ann Womack, Tristan and Tashina Clarridge, Simon Chrisman, Ben Krakauer, Matt Hartz, and John Hermann.
Carl Hopkins is a Texas State Fiddle Champion whose roots in Texas-style fiddling run deep. Born and raised in Southeast Texas, Carl picked up the fiddle at age eight under the guidance of his world champion father, E.J. Hopkins. His playing and enthusiasm for fiddling was shaped early on by the influence of Texas legend, Louis Franklin. Over the years, he has earned top placements in major competitions in Texas and around the U.S., including several state championship titles in Hallettsville, TX, at the Texas State Fiddler’s Frolics. With decades of experience as both a competitor and performer, Carl is widely respected throughout the contest fiddling community for his energy, ingenuity, stylistic authenticity, and deep knowledge of the Texas tradition. Today, he continues to influence younger musicians, perform across the region, and contribute to the preservation of classic Texas fiddle music. He is excited to serve as a judge for this year’s competition and looks forward to supporting the next generation of talented fiddlers.
Please visit the Colorado Fiddle Championships Hall of Fame page to see previous judges who have shared their love of fiddling and expertise over the past fourteen years to make this one of the top fiddle contests in the United States.