Christopher E. Sexton
8043 Lantern Court (703) 975-5075
Manassas, VA 20109 chris@nothinfancybluegrass.com
I. INTRODUCTION
Employment History (Performance)
Nothin’ Fancy Bluegrass Band, LLC 1999 – present
After recording two albums with the band in 1998 and 1999, was hired as a full-time fiddle player for a nationally-acclaimed bluegrass ensemble, which is the three-time winner of the Society of the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) Entertainers of the Year Award from 2008 to the present. Duties are performing with a band with 8 full-length albums, a tour schedule of a 120-date appearance schedule average per year in an area that includes 35 states, Canada, islands of the Caribbean, Mexico, The Netherlands, and Norway.
Violino Ristorante Italiano 1996 – present
Played live music as a strolling violinist to patrons of an Italian restaurant located in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Was allowed to play classical, jazz, and bluegrass, and had a memorized repertoire of at least 3.5 hours of music, along with the improvisations stylistically called for in jazz and bluegrass.
Loudoun Symphony 1998 – 2000
Held position of assistant principal viola. Was principal violist for the string workshop program sponsored by the LS, which allowed for members of the community to rehearse and perform alongside professional musicians in the symphony. Held position for three years, with a minimum of four concerts per season, along with principal-chair recitals and pops concerts in June before the seasons’ end.
East Coast Bluegrass Band 1997 – 2000
Hired as fiddle player after completion of undergraduate degree in violin performance. Performed mostly in the central VA region for private functions and occasional public appearances at local venues.
Shenandoah Summer Music Theater 1994 & 1997
Violinist/violist with a professional music theater company pit orchestra, which performs under the auspices of Shenandoah University’s Conservatory of Music.
Seasons start in June and end in early August.
Voluntary Appearances Varies
Association, rehearsal, and performance with artists of varying genres and styles other than the primary musical employer/partners onstage. Appearances are noted either as an instrumentalist, vocalist, or a combination.
Employment History (Education)
Common Ground on the Hill Summer 2008
Taught two courses in fiddle – beginning and intermediate/advanced – for a arts/crafts camp that met for two weeks. The final day featured a master class by fiddle master Bobby Hicks, where the techniques of Mr. Hicks’ playing were team-taught by both Hicks and the primary instructor.
Foxes Music 2002 – present
Private teacher in violin, bluegrass fiddle, viola, and beginning/intermediate cello. Lessons are taught one day out of the week with an average of 7 students. Students are ages 5 and up.
Picker’s Supply 2002 – present
Private teacher in violin, bluegrass fiddle, viola, beginning/intermediate cello, beginning/intermediate piano, and voice coaching. Lessons are taught one day out the week with an average of 7 students. Students are ages 5 and up.
American Children of SCORE 1998 – 2003
Children’s ensemble of grades 3 through 8 led by three co-directors; served as the string director. The students were chosen by audition to be in the ensemble, and were expected to sing in a chorus, play recorders and Orff instruments, and the students who played string instruments were under the direction of the string director. String students were taught their music by ear and required to memorize their music.
Prince William County Schools 2000 – 2002
Held position of orchestra/general music teacher for grades 6 through 8 at Parkside Middle School in Manassas, VA. Students of general music were taught music appreciation of classical, blues, jazz, rock, country and popular genres, along with basic music theory. Orchestral students were taught how to rehearse in an ensemble, and were shown fundamental stringed-instrument techniques and were expected to practice them as they applied to their music. At the time of employment, a provisional license to teach instrumental was held between 2000 and 2003.
Fairfax County Public Schools 1999 – 2000
Was a substitute teacher for Area I high schools and middle schools in Fairfax County, which covered Springfield, Burke, and the Alexandria suburbs located in the Fairfax County jurisdiction. Was requested mostly for music teacher substitutions, and from September through November of 1999, served as a long-term substitute orchestra director for Haywood Secondary School.
SCORE Music School
Private teacher in violin, bluegrass fiddle, viola; worked in conjunction with the American Children of SCORE. Lessons taught three days out of the week. Students aged 8 and up.
Education
Shenandoah University 2008-2010
M.M., Instrumental Pedagogy (Violin)
Shenandoah University 1993-1997
B.M., Instrumental Performance (Violin)
II. REPERTOIRE AND DISCOGRAPHY
Solo Repertoire (Violin):
Violin Concerto in a minor Accolay, J.
Violin Concerto in a minor Bach, J. S.
Violin Concerto in E Major Bach, J. S.
Unaccompanied Partita in b minor Bach, J. S.
Unaccompanied Partita in d minor Bach, J. S.
Unaccompanied Partita in E Major Bach, J. S.
Rumanian Folk Dances Bartok, B.
Romance in G Major Beethoven, L.
Romance in F Major Beethoven, L.
Sonata No. 5 in F “Spring” Beethoven, L.
Sonata No. 8 in G Major Beethoven, L.
Concerto in e minor Conus, J.
La Folia Corelli/Kreisler
Meditation from “Thais” Massenet, J.
Violin Concerto in e minor Mendelssohn, F.
Concerto No. 3 in G Major Mozart, W. A.
Concerto No. 4 in D Major Mozart, W. A.
Sonata No. 6 in F Major Mozart, W. A.
Moto Perpetuo Paganini, N.
Violin Concerto in b minor Saint-Saens, C.
Introduction and Tarantelle Sarasate, P.
Violin Concerto in D Major Tchaikovsky, P. The Four Seasons (Op. 8, No. 1-4) Vivaldi, A.
Chamber/Ensemble Repertoire:
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 Bach, J. S.
Cantata No. 4 “Christ lag in Todesbanden” Bach, J. S.
String Quartet No. 1 in F Major Beethoven, L.
Symphony No. 1 in C Major Beethoven, L.
Symphonie fantastique Berlioz, H.
In the Steppes of Central Asia Borodin, A.
Polovetsian Dances Borodin, A.
Academic Festival Overture Brahms, J.
Symphony No. 2 in D Major Brahms, J.
Variations on a Theme by Haydn Brahms, J.
Serenade for Strings Dvorak, A.
Symphony No. 8 in G Major Dvorak, A.
Symphony No. 9 in e minor “New World” Dvorak, A.
“Enigma” Variations Elgar, E.
Serenade for Strings Elgar, E.
Symphony in d minor Franck, C.
American in Paris Gershwin, G.
Rhapsody in Blue Gershwin, G.
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 Grieg, E.
The Messiah Handel, G. F.
Semele Handel, G. F.
Solomon Handel, G. F.
Symphony No. 2 “Romantic” Hanson, H.
Symphony No. 88 in G Major Haydn, F.
Symphony No. 95 in c minor Haydn, F.
Amahl and the Night Visitors Menotti, G.
The Medium Menotti, G.
Vespers Monteverdi, C.
Piano Quartet in g minor Mozart, W. A.
String Quartet in G Major Mozart, W. A.
Sheherezade Rimsky-Korsakov, N.
String Quartet No. 13 in a minor Schubert, F.
Symphony No. 8 in b minor Schubert, F.
String Quintet Schumann, R.
Symphony No. 4 in d minor Schumann, R.
String Quartet No. 8 Shostakovich, D.
Symphony No. 5 in d minor Shostakovich, D.
Symphony No. 9 in E-flat Major Shostakovich, D.
Symphony No. 2 in D Major Sibelius, J.
Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche Strauss, R.
Cappricio italien Tchaikovsky, P.
Marche Slav Tchaikovsky, P.
Symphony No. 4 in f minor Tchaikovsky, P.
Gloria Vivaldi, A.
Overture to Lohengrin Wagner, R.
String Serenade No. 2 in a minor Weinar, L.
Discography
East Coast Bluegrass Band. Life’s Mysteries. Copper Creek Records, 1998. Boones Mill, VA: Doobie Shea Recording Studio. Produced by Tim Austin.
Nothin’ Fancy. Earn Your Ticket. Independent Label, 1999. Charlottesville, VA: Virginia Arts Recording. Produced by Nothin’ Fancy.
Nothin’ Fancy. Field of Dreams Independent Label, 2000. Salem, VA: Flat 5 Press and Recording. Produced by Mitchell Davis and Tom Ohmsen.
Nothin’ Fancy. Now and Then. Independent Label, 2001. Salem, VA: Flat 5 Press and Recording. Produced by Mitchell Davis and Tom Ohmsen
Regan. Coming Or Going? Independent Label, 2002. Richmond, VA: In Your Ear Recording Studio. Produced by Regan, Wayne Pooley, and Doug Derryberry.
Nothin’ Fancy. Once Upon a Road. Pinecastle Records, 2002. Franklin, TN and Salyersville, KY: Top Dog Studios/Franklin Audio. Produced by Don Rigsby.
Nothin’ Fancy. The Other Side of Nothin’ Fancy. Pinecastle Records, 2002. Moneta, VA: Lakeside Recording Studio. Produced by Mitchell Davis.
Third Stream
Giants. Third Stream Giants EP. Independent Label, 2003. Alexandria,
VA: IAR Music. Produced by Matt Montoro.
Jennifer Kirkland. You Must Believe In Spring. KangaRoo Productions, LLC; 2004. Charlottesville, VA: Small World Music. Produced by Bert Carlson.
Nothin’ Fancy. Reflections. Pinecastle Records, 2004. Moneta, VA: Lakeside Recording Studio. Produced by Dale Perry.
McLaws Drive. Sign. Independent Label, 2004. Fredericksburg, VA: Third Stream Music. Produced by Matt Montoro.
Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. Ragin’ Live! Rounder Records, 2005. St. Louis, MO: Recorded live at the Sheldon Concert Hall. Produced by Rhonda and Darrin Vincent.
Laurie Rose Griffith and Peter Mealy. Something Good. Independent Label, 2005. Fredericksburg, VA: Wally Cleaver’s Recording. Produced by Jeff Covert.
Todd Hallawell. From Nashville and Back. Independent Label, 2005. Goochland, VA: Recorded in private home. Produced by Todd Hallawell.
Chris Sexton. Coffee at Midnight. Pinecastle Records, 2005. Browntown, VA: Phoenix Studios. Produced by Gary Ferguson and Chris Sexton.
Third Stream Giants. Third Stream Giants 2. Independent Label, 2006. Fredericksburg, VA: Third Stream Music. Produced by Matt Montoro.
Various Artists. A Bluegrass Gospel Tribute to Vince Gill: Sounds of Heaven. CMH Records, 2006. Raleigh, NC: Jordan Dilling Entertainment. Produced by Steve Dilling.
Randy Waller and the Country Gentlemen. Keeper of the Flame. Lendel Records, 2006. Vienna, VA: Assembly Line Studio. Produced by Randy Waller and Len Holsclaw.
Nothin’ Fancy. Album #7. Pinecastle Records, 2006. Salem, VA: Flat 5 Recording and Press. Produced by David Parmley.
Al Raposo. Adeus a Terciera. Independent Label, 2006. Fredercksburg, VA: Third Stream Music. Produced by Matt Montoro.
Alexandra LaJoux. My Country. Independent Label, 2006. Falls Church, VA: Cue Recording Studios. Produced by Andrew Acosta.
Steve Kropp. Peaks and Valleys. Independent Label, 2007. Fredericksburg, VA: Third Stream Music. Produced by Matt Montoro.
Various Artists. Browntown: God’s Country. Independent Label, 2008. Browntown, VA: Phoenix Studios. Produced by Gary Ferguson.
Nothin’ Fancy. Lord Bless This House. Pinecastle Records, 2009. Nashville, TN: Adventure Studios. Produced by Rhonda and Darrin Vincent.
Third Stream Giants. Cool Human. Independent Label, 2009. Fredericksburg, VA: Third Stream Music. Produced by Matt Montoro.
Sebastian. Cruel Intentions. (projected release in 2011) Virginia Beach, VA: Thomas Crown Studio. Produced by Wizz-Dom and Sebastian.
TV/Film Recording Credits
Eddie Mensor, director. The Deposition, 2010 (post-production at present).
Film IMDb URL: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1510936/
Personal IMDb URL: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3963148/
Public Broadcasting Stations. Down From the Mountain, 2009. Recorded live at the Lincoln Theater; Marion, VA.
Public Broadcasting Stations. Ragin’ Live, 2005. Recorded live with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage at the Sheldon Concert Hall; St. Louis, MO.
The Discovery Channel. Shark Week, 2002.
The National Geographic Channel. Iran, 2001.
The Discovery Channel. Understanding Fire, 2001.
III. PUBLIC PERFORMANCE
Artist Onstage Associations/Appearances
Agents of Good Roots
American Children of SCORE
Andrew Winn
Apollo Civic Theater Pit Orchestra
Bob Paisley
Bobby Hicks
Bluegrass Brothers
Carolina Road
Charlie Moore
Charlie Waller
Cherryholmes
Country Gentlemen
Danny Paisley
David Parmley
East Coast Bluegrass Band
Expedition Show
Fitzmaurice Band
Gary Ferguson
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington
Gene Watson
John Starling
Kenny Baker
Kevin Mac
Krüger Brothers
Larry Stephenson Band
Marty Raybon
Maryland Symphony Orchestra
McPeake Brothers
Michelle Nixon and Drive
Mike Auldridge
Missy Raines
Nash Street
Nothin’ Fancy
Orrin Starr
Pan-American Symphony Orchestra
Randy Waller
Ray Legère
Rhonda Vincent and the Rage
Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
Ryan Holliday
Seldom Scene
Third Stream Giants
IIIrd Tyme Out
Tom Gray
Wil Gravatt Band
Appearances with Nothin’ Fancy (* = clinician; ** = multiple appearances)
All-American Bluegrass Festival Orange, VA
American Music Theater Lancaster, PA
Arcadia Bluegrass Festival Arcadia, MD
Basin Bluegrass Festival Brandon, VT
Bass Mountain Bluegrass Festival Snow Camp, NC
Berryville Bluegrass Series Berryville, VA
Bill Monroe Bluegrass Music Festival Bean Blossom, IN
Birchmere Alexandria, VA
Blackwater Bluegrass Festival Jasper, AL
Bluegrass on the River ** Lk. Havasu City, AZ
Bluegrassin’ in the Foothills Plymouth, CA
Brown Island Park Richmond, VA
Buchanan Theatre Buchanan, VA
Cabin Fever Bluegrass Festival ** Hampton, VA
Central VA Bluegrass Festival Amelia, VA
Country Bluegrass Festival ** North Platte, NE
Country-Treff Breim, Norway
Court Square Theater Harrisonburg, VA Chautauqua Festival Wytheville, VA Davis Valley Winery Groseclose, VA
De Eerste Aánleg Bistro Nieuwkoop, Holland
Dixieland Music Park Waldo, FL
Dollywood Pigeon Forge, TN
Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival Kodak, TN
Eastern Mennonite College Harrisonburg, VA
ETA Bluegrass Cruise ** Various
Festival in the Pines Rocky Mount, VA
Festival of the Bluegrass Lexington, KY
First Night Harrisonburg Harrisonburg, VA
Franklin Bluegrass Festival Franklin, KY
Free State Bluegrass Festival Canton, TX
Galax Fiddler’s Convention Galax, VA
Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival ** Gettysburg, PA
Gibson Showcase Theater Nashville, TN
Glen Allen Performing Arts Center Glen Allen, VA
Graves Mountain Bluegrass Festival Syria, VA
Greater Downstate Bluegrass Festival Springfield, IL
Grottoes Bluegrass Festival Grottoes, VA
Harris Pavilion Manassas, VA
High Country Bluegrass Festival Boone, NC
Hoofer’s Gospel Barn * LaGrange, GA
James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA
Jammin’ Java Vienna, VA
Kentucky Lake Bluegrass Festival Aurora, KY
Lee District Park Alexandria, VA
Lil’ Margaret’s Bluegrass Festival Leonardtown, MD
Lincoln Center New York, NY
Lincoln Theater Marion, VA
Lucketts Bluegrass Series Lucketts, VA
MA Bluegrass Jamboree East Wareham, MA
Maury River Fiddler’s Convention Buena Vista, VA
Mickey’s Mountain Bluegrass Festival Hopedale, OH
Milan Bluegrass Festival Milan, MI
Mineral Bluegrass Festival Mineral, VA
Mountain Top Bluegrass Festival Tarentum, PA
Mountain View Fall Festival Mountain View, AR
Mr. B’s Bluegrass Festival Ladysmith, VA
Naperville Bluegrass Festival Naperville, IL
NC State Bluegrass Festival Cherokee, NC
NE Bluegrass Festival Lincoln, NE
New Year’s Bluegrass Festival Jekyll Island, GA
Nothin’ Fancy Festival * Buena Vista, VA
Nova Scotia Bluegrass Festival Stewiacke, NS
Oakland Community College Royal Oak, MI
OATS Bluegrass Festival Benton, PA
Ocean Lakes Bluegrass Festival Myrtle Beach, SC
Ohio Valley Bluegrass Series Mt. Orab, OH
Ossippee Valley Festival ** Cornish, ME
Ottawa Valley Bluegrass Festival ** Renfrew, ON
Palatka Bluegrass Festival Palatka, FL
Paramount Theater Bristol, VA
Pickin’ in the Pasture Lodi, NY
Pemi Valley Bluegrass Festival Campton, NH
Penny Royal Opry House Fairview, OH
Podunk Bluegrass Festival Hartford, CT
Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival Morehead, KY
PreddyFest Franklinton, NC
Randy Woods Guitar Shop Bloomingdale, GA
Renfro Valley Bluegrass Festival Renfro Valley, KY
Rhonda Vincent Bluegrass Cruise ** Various
Robeson Community College Lumberton, NC
Riverhawk Bluegrass Festival Brooksville, FL
Rockahock Bluegrass Festival Lanexa, VA
Rogersville Homecoming Festival Rogersville, NB
Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN
Sally Creek Music Festival ** Woodstock, ON
Sally Mountain Music Park Queen City, MO
SC State Bluegrass Festival Myrtle Beach, SC
Shenandoah University Winchester, VA
Silver Dollar City Branson, MO
Southern OH Bluegrass Festival Wilmington, OH
SPBGMA Awards Show Nashville, TN
SPBGMA Midwest Bluegrass Awards * Jefferson City, MO
Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park Live Oak, FL
Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival Conway, MO
State Theater Falls Church, VA
Station Inn Nashville, TN
Summersville Bluegrass Festival Summersville, WV
Sweet Briar College Amherst, VA
Thomasville Cultural Arts Center Thomasville, GA
Tri-State Bluegrass Festival Kendallville, IN
Turkey Track Bluegrass Festival Waldron, AR
Two Rivers Bluegrass Series Two Rivers, WI
Waynesboro Extravaganza Waynesboro, VA
Wayside Bluegrass Festival Stuart, VA
White Sands Festival Chumuckla, FL
Wind Gap Bluegrass Festival Wind Gap, PA
Yeehaw Junction Bluegrass Festival ** Yeehaw Junction, FL
Yellow Barn Mt. Jackson, VA
Appearances with East Coast Bluegrass Band
First Night Charlottesville Charlottesville, VA
Fridays After Five Charlottesville, VA
Galax Fiddler’s Convention Galax, VA
Michael’s Bistro Charlottesville, VA
Waynesboro Extravaganza Waynesboro, VA
Guest Artist Appearances Locations
17th Street Pavilion Virginia Beach, VA
Alley Katz Richmond, VA
Apollo Civic Theater Martinsburg, WV
Birchmere Alexandria, VA
Fredericksburg Expo Center Fredericksburg, VA
Grand Ole Opry Nashville, TN
Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival Ancramdale, NY
George Mason University Fairfax, VA Jammin’ Java Vienna, VA
Kennedy Center Washington, DC
Kentucky Convention Center Louisville, KY
Lisner Auditorium Washington, DC
Sheldon Concert Hall St. Louis, MO
Torpedo Factory Alexandria, VA
Trinity College Washington, DC
IV. AWARDS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Awards/Honors
Nothin’ Fancy
“Nothin’ Fancy Day” declared by Buena Vista mayor 2010
Winner, SPBGMA Entertainers of the Year 2008 – 2010
Nominee, SPBGMA Fiddle Player of the Year 2007 – 2010
Named “Honorary Mountaineer” by the WV Governor 2007
Nominee, IBMA Emerging Artists of the Year 2003 – 2004
Winner, Maury Rive Convention Band Contest 1998
Placement, Galax Convention Band Contest 1997 – 1998, 2000
East Coast Bluegrass Band
Galax Convention Band Contest 1998 – 1999
Associations
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia 1995 – present
The world’s oldest and largest music fraternity, founded in 1898. Was initiated into Phi Mu Alpha by the Nu Psi chapter (Shenandoah University’s chapter) at James Madison University. Officer positions held in Phi Mu Alpha:
Province 27 Alumni Coordinator 2009 – present
Nu Psi Chapter Alumni Relations Officer 2007 – 2009
DC Bluegrass Union 2002 – 2007
Membership consists of bluegrass musicians and supporters in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Was often active as an artist performing for union fundraisers.