# International Whistlers Convention

The International Whistlers Convention was an international competition for whistlers that originated from a folk festival in Louisburg, North Carolina. It was started in 1980 as the National Whistlers Convention, the first whistling convention in the world. Although mostly held in Louisburg, the convention was occasionally held in Japan and China. In addition to competitions, the convention also inducted individuals into the Whistlers Hall of Fame in addition to competitions. The convention was featured in the documentary Pucker Up: The Fine Art of Whistling. The last International Whistlers Convention was held in Louisburg in 2013. In 2016, the Japanese Whistling Confederation started a successor event, the biennial World Whistlers Convention.

## History
### Origins

The Franklin County and Louisburg College Folk Festival was founded in 1970 by Louis de Hart to celebrate traditional music, dance, and crafts of the American southeast. The festival was held at Louisburg College in Louisburg, North Carolina. For the original composition competition at the 1974 festival, Darrell Williams from Durham, North Carolina whistled his original composition of “Little River Blues” instead of singing; he won the category that year and again in 1975, whistling.
In 1976, de Hart added a separate whistling competition to the festival; this was the start of the Whistling Contest. Later, the whistling competition was split from the fall folk festival and became an annual spring event. It was the first whistling convention in the world.

### National Whistling Convention

By 1980. the event's new sponsor was the Franklin County Arts Council; the council was established by de Hart who served as its executive director. The name of the event was changed to the National Whistlers Convention (NWC) in 1980; a name that was trademarked. The NWC received funding from the North Carolina Arts Council. Judges for the competition consisted of professional musicians, professors of musical theory, and music composers; different judges were used each year to eliminate any advantage for prior winners.
Starting in 1981, distinguished guest whistlers were invited to the NWC where they performed and conducted workshops. The guest whistlers for 1982 were In Carlin Morton of Fort Myers Beach, Florida; Fred Newman of New York City; Jason Serinus of San Francisco, California who was noted as the "voice" of Woodstock in Peanuts! cartoons, and Maury York of Greenville, North Carolina.
In 1981 and 1982, the NWC was held in the Franklin County Courthouse in Louisburg. The event included the whistling contest, a concert with guest whistlers, and the Whistling Museum. In addition to the musical competition, awards were also given for bird calls, animal sources, and the loudest whistle. The grand champion for both years was Tobe Sherrill, a student from Greensboro, North Carolina. In 1983, the NWC expanded from two days to four days. This allowed it to include seminars, a banquet, and exhibitions. It became a tradition for the grand champion to perform on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
In 1984, a new competition category for children twelve years old and under was added to the NWC. Amy Rose of Louisburg was the first children's champion. She was the children's champion again in 1985 and received national publicity, including performing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. She went on to become the teen champion in later years.
In 1989 and 1990, 3,000 people participated in the preliminary round of the NWC. Each contestant was required to perform both a classical and popular piece. Contestants competed in the preliminary round by submitting a tape. Those performers were cut to 40 who would compete during the IWC. The NWC ruled that grand champions had to take a year off after two wins in a row. In 1990, it became a tradition for the grand champion to perform on Late Night with David Letterman. In 1996, the NWC began selecting both male and female grand champions.

### International Whistlers Convention

In 1997, the National Grand Champion award was changed to the International Grand Champion, changing the event to the International Whistlers Convention (IWC). Its first grand champion was Desgagne. Changes in 1998 included expanded to two days and an evening of competition, requiring the competitors to prepare as many as eight songs instead of the usual two songs.
In 2000, more of the competitors were professional whistlers. The main competition divisions were adult, teen, child, and allied arts. Allied arts included people who whistled with their fingers or through ventriloquism. One reporter described the IWC: "The sounds that pour forth from the whistlers are astonishing; cascading warbles, bell tones, tremolos and trills, syncopated crescendos, octaves of excitement."
During the 2001 convention, David Heilbroner and Katie Davis filmed the documentary Pucker Up: The Fine Art of Whistling. By 2003, a newspaper reporter noted, "Louisburg has pulled off a neat trick of civic identity. It has created an annual event that is odd enough to attract wide attention, yet serious enough to be treated respectfully."
After the 2005 IWC, Franklin County Arts Council realized that it needed to plan for the increasing number of contestants and crowds, including expanded spaces and additional funding for the IWC. As a result, there was not an IWC in 2006.
When the IWC returned in 2007, it had record numbers of competitors and audience members. In 2008, the 35th IWC was held in Japan. The Japan Whistlers' Federation hosted the event with the assistance of the Franklin County Arts Council. The IWC returned to Louisburg in 2009, where it set a record for the number of participants and drew participants from Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, North America, and South America. The 37th IWC was held in China in 2010 and was sponsored by the Qingdao Whistling Institute of China, against setting records for the number of participants and audience.
The Franklin County Arts Council board of directors voted to discontinue its sponsorship of the IWC in the spring of 2010. Louisburg was declared the permanent home of the IWC in 2012. That year, the IWC was sponsored by the Franklin County Historical Society. The society formed the Franklin County IWC (FCIWC), a special committee that was supposed to transition into an independent organization responsible for the IWC. Patricia Howell replaced de Hart as the director of the IWC. However, the FCIWC went defunct on July 24, 2012. The historical society again sponsored the IWC for 2013, the 40th anniversary of the whistling contest. This was the last IWC hosted in Louisburg. A 41st IWC was held on April 6, 2014, after which the historical society ceased to be the sponsor of the event.

### World Whistlers Convention

The Japanese Whistling Confederation started the World Whistlers Convention (WWC) in 2016 as a successor to the International Whistlers Convention. WWC is held in Kawasaki, Kanagawa every two years. It has adopted the numbering system from the IWC, calling its 2024 event the "46th World Whistlers Convention". However, a quote from de Hart on the WWC website, clearly indicates that the WWC was a new event, not a transfer of the IWC operation.

## National Whistlers Museum

De Hart founded the National Whistlers Museum which opened in 1981. It maintained a collection of recordings, memorabilia, and some 300 whistles. The museum housed the Whilsters Hall of Fame Awards. It organized displays for the NWC.

## Hall of Fame

The Whistlers Hall of Fame Award was introduced at the 13th annual National Whistling Convention in 1986. Its first inductee was Agnes Woodward, founder of the California School of Artistic Whistling.
The Hall of Fame Award was given to a living or deceased whistler with "a history of achievement in the art of whistling with long-range efforts and success in promotion and production of performances, and materials to support the arts, such as recordings, appearances in concert halls, coverage by media, and awards as a performer that may be whistling or associated with whistling."
Following is a list of the members of the Whistlers Hall of Fame.
* 1986 – Agnes Woodard (California)
* 1987 – Bing Crosby (California)
* 1988 – Lillian Williams (Arkansas)
* 1989 – Don Robertson (California) and Fred Lowery (New York City, New York)
* 1990 – Purves Pullen (California)
* 1991 – Elmo Tanner (Florida)
* 1992 – Robert Larson (Minnesota)
* 1993 – Alice J. Shaw (New York)
* 1994 – Roy Thoreson (Alberta, Canada)
* 1995 – Elmer Mullen (North Carolina) and Ronnie Ronalde (New Zealand)
* 1996– Mitch Hider (Oregon)
* 1997 – Joel Brandon (Chicago, Illinois)
* 1998 – Milton Briggs (California)
* 1999 – Betty Sylliaasen (California)
* 2000 – Marge Carlson (California)
* 2001 – Mary F. Herndon (Missouri)
* 2002 – Dick Shaw (Florida)
* 2003 – Jason Serinus (California)
* 2004 – Petty Ediger (Oregon)
* 2005 – Barry Rector (British Columbia, Canada)
* 2006 – Madeleine Drummond (Pennsylvania)
* 2007 – Steven Herbst (New York City, New York)
* 2008 – Bobbejaan Schoepen (Belgium)
* 2009 – Ronald "Ron" McCroby (Ohio)
* 2010 – Quingyao Cao (China)
* 2011 – Roger Whittaker (England)
* 2012 – Chris Ullman (Virginia)
* 2013 – Linda Hamilton (Toronto, Canada)

## Entertainer of the Year Award

The Lillian Williams Award was introduced at the annual National Whistling Convention in 1986 where it was presented to Purves Pullen. The award honored Lillian Williams a musician, humorist, and whistler, known as "America's Whistling Sweetheart". Later, it was called the Entertainer of the Year Award, presented in honor of Lillian Williams.
Following is a list of winners of the Entertainer of the Year Award.
* 1986 – Purves Pullen (Nut Tree, California)
* 1987 – Milton Briggs (Carmichael, California)
* 1988 – Roy Thoreson (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
* 1989 – Robert Larson (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
* 1990 – Marge Carlson (Fullerton California)
* 1991 – Robert "Bob" Larson (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
* 1992 – Barry Rector (British Columbia, Canada)
* 1993 – Jason Serinus (California)
* 1994 – Mitch Hider (Oregon)
* 1995 – Betty Sylliaasen (California)
* 1996 – Fred Newman (New York)
* 1997– Greg N. Smith (North Carolina)
* 1998 – Mary Frances Herndon (Missouri)
* 1999 – Christopher Ullman (Virginia)
* 2000 – Patty Ediger (Oregon)
* 2001 – Michael Cooney (Alberta, Canada)
* 2002 – Stanley Dalrymple (North Carolina)
* 2003 – Steven Herbst (New York City, New York)
* 2004 – Steven Herbst (New York City, New York) and Carole Skinner (South Dakota)
* 2005 – Phyllis Heil (North Carolina) and Steven Herbst (New York City, New York)
* 2006 – Geert Chatrou (Netherlands) and Phyllis Heil (North Carolina)
* 2007 – Tom Bryant (Florida) and Phyllis Heil (North Carolina)
* 2008 – Kimiko Wakiyama (Japan) and Geert Chatrou (Netherlands)
* 2009 – Phyllis Heil (North Carolina) and Sean Lomax (Pennsylvania)
* 2010 – Geert Chatrou (Netherlands) and Phyllis Heil (North Carolina)
* 2011 – Tormod Rogne (Norway) and Linda Hamilton (Canada)
* 2012 – Carole Anne Kaufman (California) and Michael Bravin (Maryland)
* 2013 – Joe Sodano (New Jersey) and Phyllis Heil (North Carolina)
* 2014 - Akiko Shibata (Fukushima, Japan)

## Awards
### National Whistlers Convention

| Year | Award | 1st Place | 2nd Place |
| 1981 | Grand Champion | Tobe Sherrill (Greensboro, North Carolina) | |
| 1982 | Grand Champion | Tobe Sherrill (Greensboro, North Carolina) | |
| 1982 | Senior Champion | Elmer Mullen (Louisburg, North Carolina) | |
| 1982 | Classical Champion | Ralph Stecker (Raleigh, North Carolina) | |
| 1983 | Grand Champion | Ralph Stecker (Raleigh, North Carolina) | Irving Cohen (Oakland, California) |
| 1983 | Classical Champion | Mimi Burke (Falls Church, Virginia) | Irving Cohen (Oakland, California) |
| 1983 | Contemporary Champion | Isiah McArn (Wilson, North Carolina) | |
| 1984 | Grand Champion | Irving Cohen (Oakland, California) | Peter Hasell (New Rochelle, New York) |
| 1984 | Children's Champion | Amy Rose (Louisburg, North Carolina) | |
| 1985 | Grand Champion | Peter Hassell (New Rochelle, New York) | Joel A. Brandon (Richmond, California) |
| 1985 | Children's Champion | Amy Rose (Louisburg, North Carolina) | |
| 1986 | Grand Champion | Joel A. Brandon (Richmond, California) | Daniel Bell (Roseville, California) |
| 1986 | Children's Champion | Amy Rose (Louisburg, North Carolina) | |
| 1987 | Grand Champion | Joel A. Brandon (Richmond, California) | Ugo Conti (El Cerrito, California) |
| 1987 | Children's Champion | Jennifer Simmons (Youngsville, North Carolina) | |
| 1988 | Grand Champion | Daniel Bell (Sunnyvale, California) | Gregory Nye Smith (Raleigh, North Carolina) |
| 1988 | Teenage Champion | Mike DeVente (Raleigh, North Carolina) and Patrick Riley (Efland, North Carolina) | Amy Rose (Louisburg, North Carolina) |
| 1988 | Children's Champion | Jennifer Simmons (Youngsville, North Carolina) | Jeffrey Tillitt (Louisburg, North Carolina) |
| 1989 | Grand Champion | Sean Lomax (Aiea, Hawaii) | Ugo Conti (El Cerrito, California) |
| 1989 | Teenage Champion | Amy Rose (Louisburg, North Carolina) | Tracey Solomon (Louisburg, North Carolina) |
| 1989 | Children's Champion | Terri Long (Louisburg, North Carolina) | Tawonda Glover (Franklinton, North Carolina) |
| 1990 | Grand Champion | Gregory Nye Smith (Raleigh, North Carolina) | Sean Lomax (Los Angeles California) |
| 1990 | Teenage Champion | Amy Rose (Louisburg, North Carolina) | Tawonda Glover (Franklinton, North Carolina) |
| 1990 | Children's Champion | Jeffrey Tillitt (Centerville, North Carolina) | |
| 1991 | Grand Champion | Gregory Nye Smith (Raleigh, North Carolina) | Mimi Drummond (Horsham, Pennsylvania) |
| 1991 | Teenage Champion | Suzanne Stafford (Louisburg, North Carolina) | Mark Hodge (Louisburg, North Carolina) |
| 1991 | Children's Champion | Jeffrey Tillitt (Franklin County, North Carolina) | Carrie Murry (Castalia, North Carolina) |
| 1992 | Grand Champion | Sean Lomax (Murrieta, California) | Tanguay Desgagne (Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada) |
| 1992 | Teenage Grand Champion | Suzanne Stafford (Louisburg, North Carolina) | Anthony Alson (Louisburg, North Carolina) |
| 1992 | Children's Champion | Jeffrey Tillitt (Las Vegas, Nevada) | Kirsten Davis (Louisburg, North Carolina) |
| 1993 | Grand Champion | Tanquay Desgagne (Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada) | Jason Serinus (Oakland, California) |
| 1993 | Allied Arts Champion | Dick Shaw (Apopka, Florida) | |
| 1993 | Teenage Grand Champion | Amy Rose (Louisburg, North Carolina) | Jeffrey Tillitt (Louisburg, North Carolina) |
| 1993 | Children's Champion | Elizabeth Burchette (Louisburg, North Carolina) | Kirsten Davis (Franklin County, North Carolina) |
| 1994 | Grand Champion | Chris Ullman (Washington. D.C.) | Tanquay Desgagne (Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada) |
| 1994 | Champion Pop | Chris Ullman (Washington. D.C.) | |
| 1994 | Champion Classical | Chris Ullman (Washington. D.C.) | |
| 1994 | Teenage Grand Champion | Suzanne Stafford (Louisburg, North Carolina) | Tony Woodard (Epsom, North Carolina) |
| 1994 | Children's Champion | Tim Pender and Charlie Glover (Franklinton, North Carolina) | Steven Floyd (Bunn, North Carolina) |
| 1995 | Grand Champion | Tanquay Desgagne (Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada) | Chris Ullman (Washington. D.C.) |
| 1995 | Champion Classical | Tanquay Desgagne (Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada) | |
| 1995 | Champion Pop | Tanquay Desgagne (Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada) | |
| 1995 | Teenage Grand Champion | Suzanne Stafford (Louisburg, North Carolina) | |
| 1995 | Children's Champion | Kirsten Davis (Franklin County, North Carolina) | |
| 1996 | Grand Champion Male | Chris Ullman (Washington, D.C.) | Steve Herbst (New York City, New York) |
| 1996 | Grand Champion Female | Mary Frances Herndon (Sedalia, Missouri) | Laura Loftsgaarden (Los Angeles, California) |
| 1996 | Allied Arts Champion | Elaine Clark (Sterling, Colorado) and Claudia Hutcheon (Spring Lake, North Carolina) | |
| 1996 | Duet Champion | Elaine Clark (Sterling, Colorado) and Claudia Hutcheon (Spring Lake, North Carolina) | |
| 1996 | Canadian Championship Award | Tanquay Desgagne (Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada) | Michael Cooney (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) |
| 1996 | Teenage Grand Champion | Marco Gualtieri (Dollard Des Ormeaux, Quebec, Canada) | Steven Floyd (Louisburg, North Carolina) |
| 1996 | Teenage Allied Champion | Tony Woodward (Louisburg, North Carolina) | |
| 1996 | Children's Champion | Kirsten Davis (Franklinton, North Carolina) | |

### International Whistlers Convention

| Year | Award | 1st Place | 2nd Place |
| 1997 | Grand Champion | Tanquay Desgagne (Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada) | |
| 1997 | Male Grand Champion | Tanquay Desgagne (Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada) | Michael Cooney (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) |
| 1997 | Female Grand Champion | Mary Frances Herndon (Sedalia, Missouri) | Madeleine Deslisle (Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, Canada) |
| 1997 | Teenage Grand Champion | Tony Woodard (Louisburg, North Carolina) | Spencer Wright (Southampton, New York) |
| 1997 | Children's Grand Champion | Michael Barimo (Winter Haven, Florida) | Angelica Barker (Franklinton, North Carolina) |
| 1998 | Male Grand Champion | Tanquay Desgagne (Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada) | Chris Ullman (Arlington, Virginia) |
| 1998 | Female Grand Champion | Mimi Drummond (Horsham, Pennsylvania) | Astrid Hillebrand (Nottuln, Germany) |
| 1998 | Teenage Grand Champion | Michael Barimo (Winter Park. Florida) | James Smith (Louisburg, North Carolina) |
| 1998 | Children's Grand Champion | Blair Haggett (Alexandria, Virginia) | Joseph Pellegrino (Franklinton, North Carolina) |
| 1999 | Male Grand Champion | Christopher Ullman (Arlington, Virginia) | Kilgour Shives (Vancouver, Canada) |
| 1999 | Female Grand Champion | Mimi Drummond (Horsham, Pennsylvania) | Betty Sylliaasen (Sacramento, California) |
| 1999 | Teenage Grand Champion | Jeff Tillitt (Louisburg, North Carolina) | |
| 1999 | Children's Grand Champion | Blair Haggett (Alexandria, Virginia) | Joseph Cutchins III (Franklinton, North Carolina) |
| 2000 | Male Grand Champion | Christopher Ullman (Arlington, Virginia) | Michael Cooney (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) |
| 2000 | Female Grand Champion | Emily Eagen (Cincinnati, Ohio) | Laura Loftsgaarden (Los Angeles, California) |
| 2000 | Allied Arts Champion | Emily Eagen (Cincinnati, Ohio) | |
| 2000 | Teenage Grand Champion | Jeff Tillitt (Louisburg, North Carolina) | |
| 2000 | Children's Grand Champion | Blair Haggett (Alexandria, Virginia) | Joseph Cutchins III (Franklinton, North Carolina) |
| 2001 | Male Grand Champion | Michael Cooney (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) | Steven Herbst (New York City, New York) |
| 2001 | Female Grand Champion | Emily Eagen (Cincinnati, Ohio) | Mary Frances Herndon (Sedalia, Missouri) |
| 2001 | Grand Champion Classical | Steven Herbst (New York City, New York) | |
| 2001 | Teenage Grand Champion Male | Joshua Moore (Louisburg, North Carolina) | |
| 2001 | Teenage Grand Champion Female | Castalia Leonard and Christian Leonard (Louisburg, North Carolina) | |
| 2001 | Children's Grand Champion | Tre Cutchins (Franklinton, North Carolina) | Casey Aycock (Louisburg, North Carolina) |
| 2002 | Male Grand Champion | Steven Herbst (New York City, New York) | Dan Gilliland (Dadeville, Alabama) |
| 2002 | Female Grand Champion | Carole Skinner (Miller, South Dakota) | Betty Sylliaasen (Sacramento, California) |
| 2002 | Teenage Grand Champion | Spencer Wright (Santa Cruz, California) | |
| 2002 | Children's Grand Champion | Blair Haggett (Alexandria, Virginia) | Tre Cutchens (Franklinton, North Carolina) |
| 2003 | Male Grand Champion | David Morris (Dobcross, Oldham, England) | Steven Herbst (New York City, New York) |
| 2003 | Female Grand Champion | Carole Skinner (Miller, South Dakota) | Carole Kaufman (Pasadena, California) |
| 2003 | Teenage Grand Champion Male | Cal Fenwic (Kirkfield, Ontario, Canada) | |
| 2003 | Teenage Grand Champion Female | Christian Leonard (Louisburg, North Carolina) | |
| 2003 | Children's Grand Champion | Casey Aycock (Louisburg, North Carolina) | Ashleigh Kibbe (Youngsville, North Carolina) |
| 2004 | Male Grand Champion | Geert Chatrou (Mierlo, Netherlands) | Steven Herbst (New York City, New York) |
| 2004 | Female Grand Champion | Sandra Henzler (Fort Collins, Colorado) | Carole Anne Kaufman (Pasadena, California) |
| 2004 | Teenage Grand Champion Male | Cal Fenwick (Kirkfield, Ontario, Canada) | Todd Dickerson (Hickory, North Carolina) |
| 2004 | Teenage Grand Champion Female | Malia French (West Jordan, Utah) | Casey Aycock (Louisburg, North Carolina) |
| 2004 | Children's Grand Champion | Emily Edwards (Louisburg, North Carolina) | Queena Stewart (Ithaca, New York) |
| 2005 | Male Grand Champion | Geert Chatrou (Mierlo, Netherlands) | |
| 2005 | Female Grand Champion | Sandra Henzler (Fort Collins, Colorado) | |
| 2005 | Teenage Grand Champion | Todd Dickerson (Hickory, North Carolina) | |
| 2005 | Children's Grand Champion | Emily Edwards (Louisburg, North Carolina) | |
| 2007 | Male Grand Champion | Terry Rappold (Harahan, Louisiana) | Shinichi Urushihara (Ushiku, Ibaraki, Japan) |
| 2007 | Female Grand Champion | Kimiko Wakiyama (Higashiyamato, Tokyo, Japan) | Patricia Sonnier (Mount Juliet, Tennessee) |
| 2007 | Teenage Male Champion | Takumi Gima (Osaka Sayama, Osaka, Japan) | Todd Dickerson (Hickory, North Carolina) |
| 2007 | Teenage Female Champion | Emily Edwards (Zebulon, North Carolina) | Alysha Wonka (Louisburg, North Carolina) |
| 2007 | Grand Children's Champion | Chihaya Kosugiyama (Toyonaka, Japan) | Paula Edwards (Zebulon, North Carolina) |
| 2007 | Allied Arts Champion: Adult Male | The Whistling Butterflies: Mike and Pat Cooney (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) | Clarence Gary Phifer with Sandra Henzler (Columbia, South Carolina) |
| 2007 | Allied Arts Champion: Adult Female | Carole Kaufman (Pasadena, California) | Massae "Cristina" Toyohashi (Minuma-Ku, Saitama, Japan) |
| 2008 | Male Grand Champion | Geert Chatrou (Mierlo, Netherlands) | Terry Rappold (Harahan, Louisiana) |
| 2008 | Female Grand Champion | Carole Anne Kaufman (Monrovia, California) | Akiko Komano (Japan) |
| 2008 | Senior Citizen Champion | Norihiro Okuba (Japan) | Masanobu Shiraiwa (Japan) |
| 2008 | Teenage Grand Champion | Narumi Nakata (Japan) | Ario Nozawa (Japan) |
| 2008 | Grand Children's Champion | Chihaya Kosugiyama (Japan) | Yuudai Takenaka (Japan) |
| 2008 | Allied Arts Champion: | Cao Qing Yao (China) | Mitsuhiro Mori (Japan) |
| 2009 | Male Grand Champion | Luke Janssen (New York City, New York) | Geert Chatrou (Mierlo, Netherlands) |
| 2009 | Female Grand Champion | Carole Anne Kaufman (Monrovia, California) | Kimiko Wayiyama |
| 2009 | Teenage Female Champion | Narumi Nakata (Japan) | Cassidy Osgood (Louisburg, North Carolina) |
| 2009 | Teenage Male Champion | Yudai Takenaka (Japan) | |
| 2009 | Grand Children's Champion | Takehiro Ishihara (Japan) | Robby Hood (St. Louis, Missouri) |
| 2009 | Allied Arts Champion Adult Male | Asim Gorashi (Woodridge, Queensland, Australia) | |
| 2009 | Allied Arts Champion Adult Female | Carole Anne Kaufman (Monrovia, California) | |
| 2010 | Male Grand Champion | Tormod Borgen (Rogne, Norway) | Dong Chen (China) |
| 2010 | Female Grand Champion | Akiko Shibata (Japan) | Naho Yube (Japan) |
| 2010 | Senior Male Grand Champion – Classical | Boqing Li (China) | Qingjun Han (China) |
| 2010 | Senior Male Grand Champion – Popular | Bo Seo Hwang (Korea) | Ming Sun (China) |
| 2010 | Senior Female Grand Champion – Classical and Popular | Patricia Sonnier (United States) | |
| 2010 | Teenage Grand Champion | Yuki Takeda (Japan) | Yudai Takenada (Japan) |
| 2010 | Grand Children's Champion | Qianhe Li (China) | Yong Gen (China) |
| 2010 | Allied Arts Champion Male | Boxue Tian (China) | Yong Gen (China) |
| 2010 | Allied Arts Champion Female | Naruchans: Narumi Nakata, Akiko Shibata, Naho Yube, and Takagi Mariko (Japan) | Whistling Duet: Akiko Shibata and Takagi Mariko (Japan) |
| 2010 | Allied Arts Champion Children and Teen | Aisha Kanai (Japan) | Yuki Takeda (Japan) |
| 2011 | International Male Grand Champion | Terry Rappold (Harahan, Louisiana) | Michael Bravin (Maryland) |
| 2011 | Female Grand Champion | Damariscotta Helm (Rocky Mount, North Carolina) | Carole Ann Kaufman (Monrovia, California) |
| 2011 | Allied Arts Champion Male | Tim Eggert | |
| 2011 | Allied Arts Champion Female | Damariscotta Helm (Rocky Mount, North Carolina) | |
| 2011 | Teenage Male Grand Champion | Yuki Takeda (Japan) | |
| 2011 | Teenage Female Grand Champion | Caren Irgang (Nyack, New York) | |
| 2011 | Grand Children's Champion | Everette Oba (Chiba, Japan) | Marley Kelly (Franklin County, North Carolina) |
| 2011 | Franklin County Children's Champion | Marley Kelly (Franklin County, North Carolina) | Justin House (Franklin County, North Carolina) |
| 2012 | Male Grand Champion | Sean Lomax (Murrieta, California) | Luc Vitry (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| 2012 | Female Grand Champion | Akiko Shibata (Japan) | Damariscotta Helm (Rocky Mount, North Carolina) |
| 2012 | Teenage Male Grand Champion | Pablo Leano | |
| 2012 | Teenage Female Grand Champion | Narumi Nakata (Japan) | Mizuho Takata |
| 2012 | Grand Children's Champion | Everett Oba | Soumya Kaluri |
| 2012 | Allied Arts Champion Male | Todd Dickerson (Hickory, North Carolina) | Eric Aranow |
| 2012 | Allied Arts Champion Female | Marie Ivassich | Akiko Shibata (Japan) |
| 2013 | Male Grand Champion | Qingyue Cao (China) | Jeffrey Amos (Toronto, Canada) |
| | Female Grand Champion | Mariko Takagi (Japan) | |
| | Teenage Male Grand Champion | Yudai Takenaka (Japan) | |
| | Teenage Female Grand Champion | Marina Kato (Japan) | |
| | Grand Children's Champion | Yuan Cao (China) | |