| Contest | Place | Year |
|---|---|---|
| National Mountain Dulcimer Championship | First | 2016 |
2016 - One of last year’s plaque winners took first place in this year’s competition. This place was awarded to a musician and teacher from Cedar Park, TX by the name of Mark Gilston. Mark thinks this is about the 10th time he has entered this contest. He says he has been playing the dulcimer for at least the last 45 years. And he does play other instruments such as the gaida, the English concertina, the penny whistle, the guitar and the ocarina. Mark has recorded 14 CD’s two of which are entitled “Dances with Dulcimers” and “Christmas with Dulcimers.” By the way you don’t want to tangle with Mark as one of his hobbies is Judo. As a result of his first place finish he won $175, the 1st Place Trophy and a 4FHKK Custom Mountain Dulcimer by the Dulcimer Shoppe/McSpadden Mountain Dulcimers of Mountain View, AR.