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Welcome!
Welcome to OliviaSmiley.com! Thank you for stopping by, and be sure to give the music a listen and check out the schedule before you go. We would love to see you at a show sometime soon! Olivia Smiley & Company.... past shows
Bluegrass Now Magazine "Following her eighth-place finish at the Grand Master Fiddler Championship, and a grand championship at the Ohio State Fiddling Contest, both in 2006, Olivia Smiley took the Governor's Cup at the Official Kentucky State Fiddle Championship held each July in Leitchfield, KY. This was Olivia's second win at the Kentucky competition, by the way; her first was in 2005. She also won the Governor's Cup at the Official State of Indiana Picking & Fiddling Championships, held each September in Princeton, IN. As icing on the cake, Olivia was a member of Ol' Dil, the ensemble that won the Bluegrass Band Competitions at both contests! Her bandmates included young left-handed Alabama flatpicking champion Dillon Hodges and Indiana mandolin wiz kid Solly Burton; they were joined for the Kentucky event by young banjo champ Will McMeans. The members of Olivia Smiley & Company are Olivia on fiddle and vocals, plus Jeff Guernsey on guitar, Danny Wert on bass, (Klint Brown on banjo and Kolin Brown on bass)."
Evansville Courier & Press Sept 2, 2007 Princeton IN The Official State of Indiana Picking & Fiddling Championships "The weekend's top prize, the Governor's Cup, was won by Junior Fiddle Champion Olivia Smiley of Greensburg, Indiana . . . ." "Kentucky's 2007 fiddling champion is a 19-year-old girl from Indiana - Olivia Smiley of Greensburg. Smiley, who scored just ahead of the other two finalists - Ed Carnes, Franklin TN, and Chuck Reeves, Oakman AL - also won the 2005 championship." Cybergrass "Catch Olivia Smiley & Company performing live on WHAS-TV Crusade for Children this Saturday night! Olivia Smiley is a 19-year-old fiddler/singer/songwriter, and she just released her first, solo, all acoustic bluegrass album. The variety show is being broadcast from the Kentucky Center for the Arts, Bomhard Theater beginning at 8:00pm . . . . . .Television: WHAS11,Louisville; WQWQ-TV, Paducah. Radio: 84WHAS, Louisville; WTCO, Campbellsville; WLBN, Lebanon; WBRT, Bardstown; WIEL, Elizabethtown; WHHT, Glasgow-Bowling Green; WTTL, Madisonville; WPKY, Princeton."
"If Ed McMahon were to resurrect Star Search, he should start at the annual American String Teachers Association conference, held this year at Detroit's Renaissance Center. There's no question that the stardust glittered at that well-attended event. Highlights included the third biennial Alternative Styles Awards and a gala concert on March 10 with a performance by the Turtle Island Quartet. This year's winners of the Alternative Styles Competition showed astounding talent, stage presence, and technical wizardry. The final concert showcased several genres of music outside of the Western classical tradition, including jazz, Scottish fiddling and even rock..... Nineteen-year-old Olivia Smiley won the competitions established tradition senior division. Smiley is a two-time Ohio State fiddle champ and a three time Indiana State Fair Champion."
"On Friday, June 29, a special performance by Olivia Smiley and her band will kick off the event at 7:00 p.m. Olivia was a Top Ten Finalist in the Grand Master Fiddler Championship held annually in Nashville, Tennessee. Backing her are great musicians from all around Indiana, including Jeff Guernsey who performs on guitar and adds great vocals. Danny Wert plays mandolin and sings lead and harmony, Klint Brown plays banjo and sings harmony, and Kolin Brown adds bass. Each of them has played with other recognized groups around the area before and has now come together to perform as a new, up-coming group. They always put on a tight, well-rehearsed show."
Bluegrass Music Profiles review by Robert Steelman Nov-Dec 2006 I'll cut to the chase. Get this one! Newcomer Olivia Smiley has burst onto the bluegrass scene in a big way with this self-titled debut album. Still in her teens, she demonstrates a talent as a fiddler/singer/songwriter that should be the envy of many in the music business. As a 14-year-old, Olivia caught the eye - and ear - of Jeff Guernsey, who produced this project and provided the guitar work. She gets some good backing from Michael Cleveland on mandolin, Brian Leaver on banjo and Lauren Guernsey on bass. Meredith Needham provides harmony vocals. The music is varied but tasteful, ranging from the bouncy Don't You Love Me Like That to the relaxed Mine Alone. There's also a nice, rousing instrumental version of Don't Let Your Deal Go Down. Other songs include Windy Day, Without a Doubt, Beside You In Your Heart, You Made My Day, Long Walk To Richmond, A Soldier's Lullaby, Road Trip, She'll Carry On and Lady Be Good. BMP www.bluegrassmusicprofiles.com
Cybergrass Oct 2006 "The Thirty-Fifth Annual Grand Master Fiddler Championship was held on September 29 and 30, 2006 in Nashville, Tennessee, during the IBMA Bluegrass Fan Fest. The Grand Master Fiddler Championship is a showcase for some of the best fiddle players in the world. Each year, the Contest Committee invites approximately twenty-five of the top fiddle players in North America to compete as finalists in the contest."
Bluegrass Now Magazine It is always a joy when accomplished young musicians select bluegrass as a venue to display their talents. Olivia Smiley, with the release of her self titled CD, displays her amazing talents as a vocalist, musician, and songwriter. Her fiddle talents have earned her both the Kentucky and Ohio State Fiddle Championship, the Indiana State Championship, and second place at the prestigious National Walnut Valley Festival (two times). Olivia's self-titled CD is a "must-hear" recording for all bluegrass fans. (entire review available on Music page.)
Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine Although still in her teens, fiddler and vocalist Olivia Smiley has accomplished more in just a few years than most artists experience throughout their entire career. Besides being a superb fiddler and dynamic lead vocalist, she has won numerous awards at various music and fiddle contests throughout the country. . . . . . . . . The contents of this impressive body of music clearly establishes Olivia Smiley as one of the most promising bluegrass musicians among today's youth, and it is going to be an exhilarating experience to follow the progress of her career in the years ahead. (entire review available on Music page)
The Athens Messenger Aug. 19, 2006 Nelsonville OH Hoedown Showdown "The Original State of Ohio Old-time Fiddlers' Championship, regarded as one of Ohio's premiere fiddling events, hit the legendary Stuart's Opera House stage - complete with rosin a flyin'. Winning in both her age group and the championship round, 18-year-old Olivia Smiley of Greensburg, Ind., earned eligibility to compete in the prestigious National Old-time Fiddler's contest. Olivia also won the championship in 2004."
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