2025 Texas State Championship Guitar and Banjo Contest Winners Crowned

August 2, 2025
The Bluegrass Heritage Foundation was excited to present the 2025 Texas State Championship Guitar and Banjo Contests on August 2, 2025 in conjunction with the 2025 Farmers Branch Bluegrass Festival.  Photos are available in our gallery. 

The Championships were held at the DoubleTree Hotel near the Galleria in Farmers Branch and were sponsored in part by the City of Farmers Branch Texas, Central Texas Bluegrass Association, Southwest Bluegrass Club, Paluxy River Bluegrass Association, Bay Area Bluegrass Association, J&S Body Shop, Camp Bluegrass, and Huber Banjos.

The top three finishers in each contest received cash prizes of $500, $250, and $100, along with commemorative plaques and other items donated by contest sponsors. Both contests had a strong field of contestants, and the winners on each instrument were as follows:

Guitar (1st): John-Samuel May (Waco, Texas)
Guitar (2nd): Jed Clark (Nashville, Tennessee)
Guitar (3rd): Scott Owen (Garland, Texas)

Banjo (1st): Luke Lastelick (Dallas, Texas)
Banjo (2nd): Read Horton (Savoy, Texas)
Banjo (3rd): Kalip Cole (Deville, Louisiana)

We were thankful to host so many excellent pickers here in Texas and hope for another great round of contests next year.  The Bluegrass Heritage Foundation thanks all the contestants, volunteer staffers, sponsors, and fine folks in attendance who made this Championship successful.