Join our mailing list at www.MastersofWhistling.com to find out about auditions to be a contestant, volunteer, or sponsor. Masters of Musical Whistling (MMW) International Festival and Competition takes place every other year in Fall. Check out www.mastersofwhistling.com for the latest details. Renowned whistlers from all over the globe, as far as Japan, are come to the festival to demonstrate their special talent to the general public and compete with each other for the title of the world’s best whistler of the year. Carole Anne Kaufman, a two-time world champion and the International Whistling Entertainer of the Year of 2012, started MMW to raise awareness and promote the fine art of whistling. The Masters of Musical Whistling is a one-of-a-kind event that showcases world-class musical whistling and creates a space for self-expression and artistry. It is entertainment and an ancient art. Some historians consider it the first musical instrument played by people. There are several types of whistling, many of which will be performed at the festival: puckering, palatal whistling, throat whistling, hand whistling, and finger whistling. The golden age of musical whistling occurred from 1920’s - 1950’s. There were many famous whistling artists who toured and performed with big bands. After the invention of the portable radio and other music devices, the popularity of whistling declined. To revive the ancient art of whistling, several enthusiasts started the International Whistlers Convention (IWC) in the small town of Louisburg, North Carolina in 1973. The convention lasted for over 40 years and attracted whistling superstars from all over the world including Chris Ullman, Steve Herbst, Jason Serinus, Kimiko Wakiyama and Geert Chatrou. IWC closed down when its main sponsor pulled financial support. This unfortunate event motivated Carole Anne Kaufman, also known as the Whistling Diva, to organize her own competition … and MMW was born.
