Rosemount's Birtzer third in Upper Midwest Flatpicking Guitar Championship

• Photo: Clint Birtzer

Clint Birtzer performs at the Upper Midwest Flatpicking Guitar Championship.

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Rosemount resident Clint Birtzer took third last month at the Upper Midwest Flatpicking Guitar Championship.

The competition was held March 23 and 24 in connection with the River Falls Roots and Bluegrass Music Festival.

The 18-year-old Birtzer won the competition last year, and drew comments this year for his calm demeanor on stage. Event emcee Martha Gallup sad after his second-round performance that Birtzer looked "like he's thinking about his laundry, or if he left the lights on in the kitchen."

Birtzer should be used to performing. He has had several successful years with Sawtooth Bluegrass Band, which is made up of Birtzer and his brothers Luke and Shane as well as brothers Jesse and Ethan Moravec from Wabasha.

Clint and Jesse Moravec won the Minnesota Duet Championship in 2011. Their duet performance in 2010 earned them a spot on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion when he brought the show to the Minnesota State Fair's grandstand.

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