Where Whistlers Gather

His lips slathered with Vaseline and lip balm, 9-year-old Tyrone Davis nervously takes the stage, puckers up and whistles his best rendition of Here Comes Peter Cottontail. The youngster is making his debut during the competition at the International Whistlers Convention in front of a hometown crowd in Louisburg, N.C. (pop. 3,111). A similar scene has played out every third week in April for more than 30 years in the town that has earned the title of the "World’s Whistling Capital."

"Louisburg is highly cultured in literature and performing arts and is a fertile environment for whistlers," says Allen de Hart, convention founder and director. In 1970, as director of public affairs at Louisburg College, de Hart organized an annual folk festival. Competition for amateurs became part of the festival, and in 1974, a contestant asked if he could whistle Little River Blues rather than sing it.

"The judges accepted his request and entered him in the solo vocal category," recalls de Hart. Thus, the stage was set for the evolution of the one and only International Whistlers Convention.

"It’s a very important event for a town like ours because it brings more than 1,000 people here from all over the world," Mayor Karl Pernell says. "Last year, we had 56 whistling competitors from the United States, Canada, China and The Netherlands."

Under the guidance of de Hart and the Franklin County Arts Council in Louisburg, the five-day convention unfolds in an array of all things whistling. Attendees can visit the International Whistlers Museum, founded by de Hart in 1975 and featuring portraits of whistling champions, recordings and a rare whistle collection.

The convention also features the International School of Whistling, which conducts a seminar for students of all ages. "There are two types of people: those who whistle and those who try," says Mitch Hider, of Eugene, Ore., director of the school in 2004.

Hider, an International Grand Champion whistler, is devoted to spreading the word about whistling as an important, viable musical art form. Along with pointers on technique and performance, he dispenses historical tidbits.

"In the beginning, birds gave man the idea for the clarion sound, then it became a language used by ancient warriors and hunters to send signals," Hider says. In the late 19th century, it rose to a performing art and has continued through the ages.

Besides coming together to nurture friendships and enjoy their common interest, convention attendees are focused on the whistling competitions. In each category—adult, teen and child—a winner is named International Grand Champion. The judges, all with musical backgrounds, assess the contestants on their ability, creativity, stage presence and audience appeal.

When contestants step up to the microphone in the Louisburg College Auditorium, dressed in ball gowns and tuxedos, their lips—sometimes called a pucculo—have undergone rigorous conditioning.

Steve Herbst, a professional whistler and International Grand Champion from New York, says "dry, chapped lips are a whistler’s worst nightmare." Generous dabs of lip balm, water and two-hour practice sessions are all a part of his daily routine.

In honor of the talented performers who entertain Louisburg residents and make the town their venue each year, North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley proclaimed the third week in April "Happy Whistlers Week." He encourages everyone to "just give a little whistle." And in Louisburg, it’s the thing to do.

Ann Goebel is a freelance writer in Knightdale, N.C.

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