Instrumentalists (non-Piano)

Did you know that the 1970s saw 17 women make Top 10 at Miss America playing a musical instrument other than the piano?  During the television years (1954-present) Top 10 talents have included women playing flute, clarinet, saxophone, harp, violin/fiddle, cello, banjo, and marimba.

Five of our Miss Americas in the television years have played a musical instrument (other than piano) in talent. (See below).

1979 was THE record year for instrumentalists:
1st Runner-up - Tana Carli, Ohio, accordion (Talent Prelim Winner)-Tea for Two & Dizzy Fingers
2nd Runner-up - Michelle Whitson, Kansas, harp-Never On Sunday
3rd Runner-up - Susan Wilson, Missouri, piano-Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu
4th Runner-up - Marti Phillips, Florida, clarinet-Rhapsody in Blue & Begin the Beguine
Top 10 Finalist - Lori Froeling, Iowa, Flute-Carnival of Venice
Even Miss America, Cheryl Prewitt, Mississippi, accompanied herself on the piano when she sang 'Don't Cry Out Loud.

Instrumentalists in Top 10 by Decade
1950s - 4
1960's - 2
1970's - 17
1980s - 7
1990s - 5
2000s - 6
2010s - 0 

In the television era (1954-2014), states have sent an average of four (4) women to Miss America who played a musical instrument other than piano for talent.

States with most instrumentalists in the television era (1954-2014)
Idaho - 15
Minnesota - 12
Colorado - 8
Iowa - 8
Wisconsin - 8

States with fewest instrumentalists in the television era (1954-2014)
Virginia - 0
North Carolina - 0
Arizona - 1
Georgia - 1
Indiana - 1
Nebraska - 1
West Virginia - 1

States with the most Top 10 Finalists playing instruments
Texas-5
Wisconsin-4
South Carolina-3

Top 10 Finalists by Instrument (1954-2014)
As you will see from their selections, it helps to play Csardas, no matter what instrument.

Violin/Fiddle-14
Five women have played Orange Blossom Special in Top 10
1970-Oklahoma-Judy Adams-Top 10 & Tal-Hot Canary by Florian ZaBach
1973-Texas-Judy Mallett-Top 10-Csardas & Orange Blossom Special
1978-Kansas-Lori Bergen-Top 10 & Tal-Csardas & Orange Blossom Special
1983-Missouri-Barbara Webster-Top 10 & Tal-Listen to the Mockingbird & Orange Blossom Special
1985-Texas-Jonna Fitzgerald-2nd Runner-up & Tal-Csardas & Orange Blossom Special
1986-Michigan-Kelly Lynn Garver-3rd Runner-up & Tal-New Country & Orange Blossom Special
1988-MINNESOTA-GRETCHEN CARLSON-MISS AMERICA 1989 & Tal-Zigeunerweisen
1993-Wisconsin-Tania Ziegler-Top 10-Bruch's Concerto No 1 in G minor
1999-Pennsylvania-Susan Spafford-2nd Runner-up-Polish Caprice
2002-Maryland-Camille Lewis-4th Runner-up & Tal-Victory
2003-Rhode Island-Laurie Gray-Top 10 & Tal-Concerto in E minor, Opus 64
2006-Utah-Katie Millar-Top 10-Souvenirs d'Amerique & Variations on Yankee Doodle
2007-Wisconsin-Christina Thompson-Top 8-Praeludium & Allegro by Fritz Kreisler
2013 - Minnesota-Rebecca Yeh-4th Runner-up & Tal-Scherzo Tarantella by Henryk Weiniawski

Flute-8
1959-Pennsylvania-Lois Piercy-Top 10 & Tal-original composition Rain On the City (w/art display)
1969-Minnesota-Judy Mendenhall-4th Runner-up & Tal-Swiss Shepherd's Song by Pietro Morlachi
1973-Wisconsin-Judy Hieke-1st Runner-up-Medley incl Cuanto Le Gusta
1974-TEXAS-SHIRLEY COTHRAN-MISS AMERICA 1975-Bumble Boogie & Swingin Shepherd Blues
1977-Oregon-Suzanne Bunker-Top 10-Fantasie for Flute
1979-Iowa-Lori Froeling-Top 10-Carnival of Venice
1989-Colorado-Debbie Riecks-2nd Runner-up-Shenandoah & Duelin' Banjos
2002-Texas-Lisa Dalzell-Top 10-Shenandoah & Duelin' Banjos

Marimba-5

1963-Alabama-Judy Short-Top 10 & Tal-Horst Toccata

1989-MISSOURI-DEBBYE TURNER-MISS AMERICA 1990 & Tal-Flight of the Bumble Bee, Csardas, Can-Can

1990-South Carolina-Mary Gainey-1st Runner-up-Scherzo for Marimba in C

1992-South Carolina-Carrie Lee Davis-Top 10-Csardas

1999-Alabama-Julie Smith-Top 10-Flight of the Bumble Bee & Csardas

Accordion-5
1954-Florida-Ann Gloria Daniel-1st Runner-up-Lady of Spain
1957-California-Lorna Anderson-3rd Runner-up-Dark Eyes
1971-Nevada-Joan Burachio-Top 10-Csardas
1979-Ohio-Tana Carli-1st Runner-up & Tal-Tea for Two & Dizzy Fingers
1981-Indiana-Pam Carlberg-3rd Runner-up-Sabre Danse & Ritual Fire Dance

Harp-4
1970-New York-Katherine Karlsrud-Top 10-Whirlwind by Carlos Salzedo
1974-California-Lucianne Buchanan-1st Runner-up-Concerto in B flat
1979-Kansas-Michelle Whitson-2nd RU-Never On Sunday
1984-UTAH-SHARLENE WELLS-MISS AMERICA 1985-Mis Noches Sin Ti (w/Vocal)

Organ-2
1957-COLORADO-MARILYN VAN DERBUR-MISS AMERICA 1958-Tea for two & Tenderly
1971-Idaho-Karen Herd-1st Runner-up-Ebb Tide & Espana Cani

Saxophone-2
1976-Texas-Carmen McCullom-2nd Runner-up & Tal-Wabash Cannonball, If He Walked Into My Life, Yakety Sax
1977-South Carolina-Catherine hinson-2nd Runner-up-What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life & Flight '76

Banjo-1972-Delaware-Catherine Lawton-Top 10-Banjo Memories
Cello-2003-Wisconsin-Tina Sauerhammer-2nd Runner-up & Tal-The Swan
Clarinet-1979-Florida-Marti Phillips-4th Runner-up-Rhapsody in Blue & Begin the Beguine


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