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The three fiddles in the coat of arms of the Bø municipality refer especially to the extensive historic Hardanger fiddle mileau of the community whose male and female players and fiddle makers are and have been among the foremost in the country for generations. During the past 15 years the Bø Juniorspelemannslag (Bø junior musicians' organization) has been active in this tradition.
The Bø Juniorspelemannslag has as its goal training children and young people to play the Hardanger fiddle. This has resulted in a close cooperation with the Bø Music School. Class-A musician Johannes Sundsvalen has for the past 10 years been both teacher and music leader of the organization in which can be found two young Class-A musicians, Per Anders Buen Garnaas and Torgeir Straand, who both have won the national competition in Class C (junior). The organization has also won the national competition in Class C.
Young members in Bø accept both challenge and responsibility as present
representatives for and performers of the rich local folk music tradition. Members
are acquainted with both the traditional arenas for playing the Hardanger fiddle
as shown in contests, and also newer and more experimental concert and workshop
arenas.
Folk music performancers of this organization have in recent years been community
representatives and have performed excellently at many national occasions, contests,
music festivals and talent competitions, and have participated in numerous difficult
and prestigious national and international competitions.
There are approximately 20 children and young people who annually receive Hardanger fiddle instruction at the music school in Bø. About half of them perform at a level which allows them to appear in fiddle playing, song and/or dance programs on the national level.
