Rebekah Weiler made history during the 36th annual 2007 Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree this summer becoming the first woman to win the old-time banjo contest.

Weiler, a 21-year-old MTSU junior history major from Murfreesboro, was backed by Leland Holland on rhythm guitar and William Moore on upright bass and played “Snowdrop” in an open C tuning in the finals.

In her five previous years of competing, Weiler never had placed or made finals.

“This achievement is something that I have wanted for a long time and to be the first female winner is a great honor,” she said. “I hope my accomplishment will inspire other young women to take up playing the banjo. It is a great instrument.”

Earlier in the night, Weiler joined Moore, Holland and fiddle player Delmer Holland as their group, Delmer Holland the Blue Creek Ramblers, captured first-place honors in the Old-Time Fiddle Band competition. Weiler has been a part of the band since she was 15. The other members are all in their ’60s and ’70s.

“Often my friends haven’t understood why I’ve spent hours playing music with a bunch of old men,” Weiler said with a laugh. “To me, they were my friends and mentors and I couldn’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be. Their knowledge about music and life in general has greatly enriched my life.”

Weiler is also the 2004 State of Tennessee banjo champion and in 2000 Weiler won a Macon-Doubler fellowship, awarded annually by the directors of the Uncle Dave Macon Days Old Time Music and Dance Festival. The fellowship was founded by members of Uncle Dave Macon’s family and other supporters of traditional music to provide funds to help pay for lessons for beginning students studying old time music or dance.

For more information, visit myspace.com/rebekahweilerbanjo.