Home‎ > ‎Research‎ > ‎

Hardanger Fiddle Competitions in the United States

List compiled by Karin Loberg Code

Below is a list of kappleikar (contests) for traditional Norwegian fiddle and dance that were held in the United States between 1912 and 1952. The participants include some of the greatest immigrant Hardanger fiddlers of the time. For more information on these kappleiks please refer to Sound Post Vol.18, No. 1.

The Hardanger Fiddle Association of America (HFAA) formed in 1983 and held a juried fiddling competition ten years later. In 2003, the program for the HFAA's AmeriKappleik included a talent showcase that was non-competitive, though otherwise conducted like a traditional kappleik. It even included a panel of Norwegian judges. Since 2003, each of our annual workshops has included an informal talent showcase as part of the multi-day program.


 **********YEAR*********
 ****************************RESULTS******************************
 

1912
Stoughton, WI

over 3,500 attended this kappleik at Telelaget i Amerika convention

Winner: Hans Fykerud
Fiddlers: Hans Fykerud (Stoughton, WI), Olav Ombreck (Ada, MN)
Dancers: Hans Bakke
 
1913
Cameron, WI

Telelaget i Amerika convention
 Winner(s):
Participants:
 1914 Winner: Hans Rygh (Joice, IA
 

1915
Montevideo, MN

first official kappleik of Hardanger Violinist Forbundet af Amerika

 Winners: Hans Rygh (Joice, IA) and Hans Fykerud (Stoughton, WI)
 1916
Thief River Falls, MN
 Winner: Hans Rygh (Joice, IA)
 1917
Blair, WI
 Winner: Harald Smedal (McFarland, WI)
 1918
Chippewa Falls, WI
 Winner: Harald Smedal
Participants, front row, from left to right: Olav Ormbreck, Bjørgulv Bjørnaraa, Harald Smedal (McFarland, WI) , Knut Helland, Gunnar Helland, Sveinung Braaten. Back row, left to right: Olav Smedal(?), Mattias Byrkjenes(?), Kittil Kittelson (Kjetil "Charlie" Kjetilson), Sveinung T. Innleggen (Chicago, IL), Dagny Andrea Veum Quisling, unidentified, Helge Thoresen (Dentybow, MN), Tolleif Strand (Chippewa Falls, WI).
 1919
Crookston, MN
 Winner: Harald Smedal (McFarland, WI)
1920
Eau Claire, WI
 Winner: Eilef Smedal
Participants, front row, from left to right: Sveinung Braaten, John Gudvangen (Chicago, IL), Kittil Kittleson (Kjetil "Charlie" Kjetilson). Middel row, from left: Tolleif Strand, Olav Smedal (Albert Lea, MN), Sjur Bjotveit (Chicago, IL), Helge Thyresen (Dentybow, MN), Olav Ormbreck, Andrea Quisling (Madison, WI), Sveinung Innleggen, unidentified. Back row, from left: Eilef Smedal (La Crosse, WI), Harald Smedal (McFarland, WI), Gunnar Helland (Chippewa Falls, WI), unidentified, Hans Fykerud.
 
1921
Mt. Horeb, WI

over 8,000 attend this kappleik!
 Winners: Eilef Smedal , Harald Smedal
Participants: Tolleif Strand (Chippewa Falls, WI), Eilef Smedal (La Crosse, WI), Harald Smedal (McFarland, WI), Andrea Quisling (Madison, WI), Hans Fykerud (Stoughton, WI), Bjørgulv Bjørnaraa (Wanke, MN), Sjur Bjotveit (Chicago, IL), Helge Thyresen (Dentybow, MN), John Gudvangen (Chicago, IL), I.G. Nordgaard (Setesdal), Olav Smedal (Albert Lea, MN), S. Indeleggen (Chicago, IL), Gunnar Helland (Chippewa Falls, WI)
 1922
Grand Forks, ND
 Winner: Harald Smedal (McFarland, WI)
1923 
1924
Minneapolis, MN
 Winners: Eilef Smedal, Jon Rosenlid, Dreng Ose, Olav Ombreck
Participants:
Dreng Ose (Setesdal), Eilef Smedal (La Crosse, WI), Bjørgulv Bjørnaraa, Gunnar Helland, Jon Rosenlid, Olav Ormbreck (Ada, MN), Lundtveit, John Gudvangen, Kolbein Ornes, Kittil Kittelson (Kjetil "Charlie" Kjetilson), Olav Dale, Sveinung T. Innleggen, Ommund Tveitli, Helge Thoresen
1925 
1926
Minneapolis, MN
 Winner: Gunleik Smedal (Albert Lea, MN)
1927
Stoughton, WI
 Winner: Gunleik Smedal (Albert Lea, MN)
1928
Albert Lea, MN
 Winner: Gunleik Smedal (Albert Lea, MN)
1929
Fargo, ND
 Winner: Oscar Hamrey (a.k.a. Ola Reishagen of Faribault, MN)
 1930
Minneapolis, MN?
 Winner(s):
Participants:
1931
Minneapolis, MN
 

Winners, Fiddle:

First Class 1st Oscar Hamrey (a.k.a. Ola Reishagen of Faribault, MN)
  2nd Gunnar Odden (Hazel Run, MN)
Second Class 1st A Steinar Odden (Hazel Run, MN)
  1st B Mads Bringeland (Grandview, WI)
Third Class 1st I.I. Eriksen (Arpin, WI)
  2nd Andrea Quisling (Madison, WI)
Huldrespil   Oscar Hamrey (a.k.a. Ola Reishagen of Faribault, MN)

Winners, Dance:

Valdrespringar 1st Knut Ødegaard and Mrs. Ceclia Simennes (Minneapolis, MN)
Telespringar 1st Harald Særsland (Minneapolis, MN) & Andrea Quisling (Madison, WI)
  2nd Mr. and Mrs. Ingebret Gunderson (Rochester, MN)
(Setesdal)gangar 1st Mr. and Mrs. Bjørgulv Bjørnaraa (Wanke, MN)
 
1932
 
 

1933
Hayfield, WI

organization renamed Spelemanns Lage av Amerika

 Winner: Eilef Smedal (La Crosse, WI)
1934
Crookston, MN
 Winner: Eilef Smedal (La Crosse, WI
 1935 

Winner(s):
Fiddlers:
Dancers:

Springar Eilef Smedall and Mrs. H. Dahl
  Mr. and Mrs. Hermann Karlsgodt
(Setesdal)gangar Mr. Bjørgulv Bjørnaraa (Wanke, MN) and Mrs. Ed Evinson
 1936 
 1937
Grand Forks, ND
 Winner: Olav Ormbreck
Participants, front row, from left to right: Olav Dale, Sveinung Braaten, Bjørgulv Bjørnaraa, Sam Sørenson(?), Steinar Odden. Back row, from left: Kolbein Ornes, Gunnar Odden, unidentified, Olav Ormbreck(?) (Ada, MN), unidentified, Hans Fykerud.
 1938
Park River, ND
 Winners: Steinar Odden (Hazel Run, MN) and Olav Ormbreck (Ada, MN)
 

1939
Fosston, MN

400-500 people attended this kappleik

 Winner: Gunnar Odden (Hazel Run, MN)
 1940
Northwood, ND
 
Winners: Olav Ormbreck (Ada, MN), Gunnar Odden (Hazel Run, MN)
 1941 Winners: Olav Ormbreck (Ada, MN), Gunnar Odden (Hazel Run, MN), Olav Dahle
 1942-1951 No kappleikar were organized.
1952
Benson, MN

 Winner: Anund Roheim
Participants: Steinar Odden (Hazel Run, MN), Anund Roheim (Great Falls, MT), Gunnar Odden (Granite Falls, MN), Jøger O. Quale (St. Paul, MN), Gullik E. Kvale (Qualey) (Camrose, Alberta, Canada), Dagny Andrea Quisling (Madison, WI)
 1953-1992 No kappleikar were organized.
 

June 25, 1993
River Falls, WI

Hardanger Fiddle Association of America's 10th anniversary fiddle contest

 Hardanger fiddle: 1st - Jodi Severson and Karen Solgard
Regular fiddle: 1st - Marnie Thies, 2nd - Ken Dickenson
Participants: Ken Dickenson, Jodi Severson, Karen Solgard, Marnie Thies
 

June 25, 2003
AmeriKappleik
"Talent Showcase"
Northfield, MN

Hardanger Fiddle Association
of America

 Participants: Fiddlers and dancers from North America.