Singer, Violinist, Banjo Player, and Folk Song Researcher
Born 1977 • American Folk Music
Fast Facts
- Originally from Greensboro, North Carolina
- Born to a father of European-American ancestry and a mother of African-American & Native American ancestry
- Attended North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics
- Studied opera at Oberlin College
- Plays violin and banjo
- Sings many styles of music, including African-American folk, opera, gospel, jazz, and Celtic folk music
- Researches and revives African-American folk songs and string band tunes
- Member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, who won a Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album in 2011
- Won a MacArthur Fellowship in 2017
- Currently composing an opera (as of 2020)
- In 2020, she was named the next Artistic Director of the Silkroad Ensemble, succeeding Yo-Yo Ma.
- Currently has homes in Greensboro, NC; Nashville, TN; and Limerick, Ireland.
Musician of the Month Project 
Rhiannon Giddens song, Build A House, is now out in book form, and beautifully illustrated. Here’s the official video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLQuq3ZnRxE.