Chris Thile: Macarthur Foundation Fellow

[Kirk Albrecht]

That mando is the Fern 23 at Gruhn no doubt

It also could be the Feb. 18, 1924 Loar at Mandolin Brothers featured in the recent video posts on their YouTube page. He seemed smitten and gushing at its tone. That would give him 2 Feb. 18 Loars!

[Jack Roberts]

Well done, Chris.

[Timmando]

This is fantastic...but I am not as surprised as I should probably be. When I watched Chris do this performance I thought to myself that he is a musical genius, another Beethoven, and how fortunate we are to live this lifetime with him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n3wHljJQ4M

The only sad thing about this is that 500K doesn't go very far these days after taxes and all...he is still no millionaire, but should be for the work he has put into his craft.

[Caleb]

I was just listening to Nickel Creek's debut on the Woodsongs archives today. There was something so magical about that group of musicians together (it remains my favorite of Thile's music). I'm looking forward to a solo classical record from him. This award is quite the accomplishment. He should be very proud of his hard work to get there.

Am I alone in finding him a very good singer? I don't see much mention of his singing voice anywhere, but I enjoy it.

[Elliot Luber]

Maybe he'll pick up another Loar with the prize. These are fantastic grants because there are essentially no strings attached, you just do what you do best with it.

[jackmalonis]

Maybe he'll pick up another Loar with the prize. These are fantastic grants because there are essentially no strings attached, you just do what you do best with it.

In the daily news article, he says in reference to the grant:

“Most of it, I will boringly sock away,” said Thile. “But I do have a fun, indulgent thing I will do. A new old mandolin just came on the market and I think I’m going to have to pick it up.”

It goes on to say that the mandolin "[is] a vintage 1925 Gibson F5 that costs anywhere from $100,000 to $200,000."


So I assume he'll buy the loar!

He's told a few different interviewers a few different things though. He also expressed the want to invest some of the money in a chamber Bluegrass quintet.

I'm all ears for the quintet!

[Kheath]

Congratulations to Chris Thile, when people look at me all crazy when I say I play the mandolin I just pull up his classical stuff on youtube to show them. This is also a boost for me personally I wasnt feeling the mandolin lately, been having a rough go here lately. Had to put down my top horse, and then a divorce. So at a time when I should be enjoying my new Morgan Monroe, it was just sitting in the corner. When I saw the article on yahoo I came here to see if it had been posted, and also saw the notice that Don Julin's book is now available, I was recharged. The book is ordered, I am inspired thanks to Chris's well earned award and I actually am feeling better than I have in a while............Kevin

[Ed Rosney]

A well-earned honor, one that mandolinists near and far proclaim a:
Good
Day.
All
Ecstatic!

[Jim Ferguson]

Awesome news re: Chris Thile & his MacArthur Foundation award.......wow!!!!
Nice to see him playing his Loar in the video too......what a look & what a sound. He could purchase two more Loars for that $$$......:-)
Peace,

[Mandobar]

The grant is disbursed in yearly allotments, with taxes deducted. He could probably swing the Fern with his first year's disbursement. He'd probably have to wait a year or so for the loar.

[BradKlein]

For most recipients of the so-called 'Genius Award', it's not the money that is so life-changing. It's the validation of their work, and the stature that the award brings. Folks return your phone calls and give much greater consideration to opinions and pitches.

$100K/year for 5 years is not small change, and for a small number of Fellows I'm sure it is vitally important. But focusing on what a person can buy with the money makes it sound like a simple lottery win, and it's not that at all.

[Ken Waltham]

He will undoubtedly buy the Feb 18 at Mandolin Bros. It is head and shoulders above the rest IMHO.

[JEStanek]

I'm more excited that he won't have to tour and can focus his energies on something big. As he said in the video, step up his game to be worthy of the award. It's funny to hear a guy who is so on his game feel the need to step it up. That's what's most exciting to me. New toys may help inspire him but like Brad suggested, I'm more excited by the possibilities it opens to Chris to really shine and create. I think foundations like this and their grants are fantastic for our culture and growth.

Jamie

[Jim Garber]

The incredible thing to me is that you do cannot apply for this grant -- they have to hear about you and choose you from all the talented folks who are tops in their various fields. I , for one, also look fwd to hearing what Chris will do with this new found freedom an opportunity to venture on even more creative endeavors. I can only imagine.

[delsbrother]

He'll need the card...

[Mandobar]

you know, $100,000 a year minus taxes only goes so far. If he buys the mandolin, he forfeits some of the freedom to create. Big choice here. let us remember now that the tax rate on a lump sum of $100,000 is a small fortune in itself. I'd like to see MAS take a back seat here and creativity be the driving force.

Brad's right, it's not a lottery win.

[JeffD]

What is interesting to me is that the genius grant acknowledges Chris in a way that album sales and gate receipts cannot. It highlights and validates that there is more going on than brilliant finger gymnastics, or attractive music. The culture, through the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation, is giving Chris an attaboy for things that are not measured in commercial success.

[Mike Herlihy]

I can't believe that passed over Lady GaGa for Chris

[PJ Doland]

Several years ago John Zorn won a MacArthur Fellowship.

Stephen Colbert did this riotous sendup, which I can't help but share.

[BradKlein]

Several years ago John Zorn won a MacArthur Fellowship.

Stephen Colbert did this riotous sendup, which I can't help but share.

OK. THAT was very funny.

[jackmalonis]

Is it strange that I'm way too excited about this? As in I want to tell everyone I know about it, mandolinist or not?
Or as in the fact that in the past 24 hours I've been in a state of hyper-inspiration.

Maybe it's because of my excitement concerning the wildly new places that Chris can and will take the mandolin because of his newfound authority and financial freedom to create as he pleases...

... And maybe it's that I just feel a little bit smarter playing the reigning Genius Instrument of Choice

[Fretbear]

Is it strange that I'm way too excited about this?
Or as in the fact that in the past 24 hours I've been in a state of hyper-inspiration.

I don't think so; I have been neglecting my mandolin due to woman blues and the guitar taking my attention away from it when I did want to play, and today I picked it up and felt so rusty and far away from it, but then played non-stop for three hours until my hands made me stop, and my chops weren't dead, they was just sleeping.....
It is very inspirational for all of us....

[JEStanek]

... And maybe it's that I just feel a little bit smarter playing the reigning Genius Instrument of Choice

Well, close, another 2012 Fellow is Benoit Rolland, who has spent the past 40 years as a stringed-instrument bow maker.

Jamie

[Glassweb]

For most recipients of the so-called 'Genius Award', it's not the money that is so life-changing. It's the validation of their work, and the stature that the award brings. Folks return your phone calls and give much greater consideration to opinions and pitches.

Brad has it exactly right. Money aside, it's truly the prestige and career-enhancing (not that he needs it!) power of the grant that makes it such a coup for the recipient. Once you receive this award you are Macarthur Fellow... and that ain't a bad fellow or fella to be...

[Timmando]

I wonder what Chris Thiles' IQ really is. Anyone have any info on his high school/college grades/QPA or lack thereof? Alot of genius types do not easily fit into the mold of sit, stand, kneel, wait, hurry, etc that is the typical things we all learn in public schools as we are trained to work for someone else.