Mandolinist

Acclaimed Grammy Award-winning mandolinist, singer, songwriter, composer, and MacArthur Fellow recipient of the prestigious “Genius Grant”, Chris Thile is a multifaceted musical talent, described by The Guardian as "that rare being: an all-round musician,” and hailed by NPR as a "genre-defying musical genius." Thile is a founding member of the highly influential string bands Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek, and has collaborated with countless luminaries from Yo-Yo Ma to Fiona Apple to Brad Mehldau. For four years, Thile hosted public radio favorite Live from Here with Chris Thile (formerly known as A Prairie Home Companion). With his broad outlook, Thile creates a distinctly American canon and a new musical aesthetic for performers and audiences alike, giving the listener “one joyous arc, with the linear melody and vertical harmony blurring into a single web of gossamer beauty” (New York Times).

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Chris Thile

Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

Acclaimed Grammy Award-winning mandolinist, singer, songwriter, composer, and MacArthur Fellow recipient of the prestigious “Genius Grant”, Chris Thile is a multifaceted musical talent, described by The Guardian as “that rare being: an all-round musician,” and hailed by NPR as a “genre-defying musical genius.” Thile is a founding member of the highly influential string bands Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek, and has collaborated with countless luminaries from Yo-Yo Ma to Fiona Apple to Brad Mehldau. For four years, Thile hosted public radio favorite Live from Here with Chris Thile (formerly known as A Prairie Home Companion). With his broad outlook, Thile creates a distinctly American canon and a new musical aesthetic for performers and audiences alike, giving the listener “one joyous arc, with the linear melody and vertical harmony blurring into a single web of gossamer beauty” (New York Times).

The Englert Theatre

Acclaimed Grammy Award-winning mandolinist, singer, songwriter, composer, and MacArthur Fellow recipient of the prestigious “Genius Grant”, Chris Thile is a multifaceted musical talent, described by The Guardian as “that rare being: an all-round musician,” and hailed by NPR as a “genre-defying musical genius.” Thile is a founding member of the highly influential string bands Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek, and has collaborated with countless luminaries from Yo-Yo Ma to Fiona Apple to Brad Mehldau. For four years, Thile hosted public radio favorite Live from Here with Chris Thile (formerly known as A Prairie Home Companion). With his broad outlook, Thile creates a distinctly American canon and a new musical aesthetic for performers and audiences alike, giving the listener “one joyous arc, with the linear melody and vertical harmony blurring into a single web of gossamer beauty” (New York Times).

The Stoller Hall

The Knights join forces with mandolinist, composer, and singer Chris Thile for a program including his brilliant songwriting and storytelling, instrumental virtuosity, and ever-present sense of humor.

The Knights & Chris Thile

Venetian Theater at Caramoor

Teddy Abrams leads a concert of familiar and brand-new American music, including Aaron Copland’s ballet suite that evokes the grandeur of pastoral frontiers. Chris Thile, who was called “a genre-defying musical genius” by NPR, offers his own musical take on the American experience. The bluegrass mandolinist behind Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek brings his newly written concerto that he says tells “the true story of the time I attempted to impress a Starbucks executive and accidentally met Carrie Fisher as a result. It’s a DOOZY!” We’re not quite sure what that means either, but we’re excited to find out.

Chris Thile and Appalachian Spring

Hollywood Bowl

The Flynn

The roster of Punch Brothers features five of the best players in modern bluegrass: Chris Thile on mandolin, Chris Eldridge on guitar, Brittany Haas on fiddle, Paul Kowert on bass, and Noam Pikelny on banjo. But for nearly two decades, the Punch Brothers have been breaking the boundaries of bluegrass, from the 40-minute suite that was the centerpiece of their debut in 2008 to a tradition-bending interpretation of a Tony Rice masterpiece in 2022. They have reworked Debussy and covered Fiona Apple, Radiohead, and Elliott Smith, but they have mostly written stunning and meticulous tunes that pair a conservatory worth of training with the élan and accessibility of their native form. Punch Brothers have been Spoleto favorites since their earliest days, when they were still building this intricate and ebullient sound. They return to Charleston to open the 2026 season of Live at the Cistern.

Mandolinist

Chris Thile

Events

Upcoming events

Apr 1, 2026

Chris Thile · The Flynn

May 24, 2026

Punch Brothers · Spoleto Festival USA

Past events

Jan 23, 2026

Chris Thile · Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

Jan 16, 2026

Chris Thile · The Englert Theatre

Future and recently performed repertoire

Mandolin in Attention by Thile

Caramoor

About

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