Bach and beyond: An evening with mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile

Grammy Award-winning mandolinist, singer, songwriter, and "genius grant" MacArthur Fellow Chris Thile will bring an adventurous program of Bach alongside his signature blend of classical, folk, and improvisation to the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m.

Selections from Thile’s acclaimed recordings of Bach’s sonatas and partitas will anchor the performance, including works from a long-awaited second volume arriving in early November. A dozen years after his first Bach recording, Thile embraces a more personal style, taking fresh liberties with the master’s scores.

With his broad outlook, Thile creates a distinctly American canon and a new musical aesthetic for performers and audiences alike. A founding member of the highly influential string bands Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek, he has collaborated with countless luminaries from Yo-Yo Ma to Fiona Apple to Brad Mehldau. As a soloist, Thile has released seven previous albums — most recently “Laysongs,” an album featuring six original songs and three covers, all of which contextualize and banter with his ideas about spirituality.

Over the last couple of years, Thile has been touring with Nickel Creek in support of the critically acclaimed 2023 release “Celebrants” and captivating audiences with a playfully ambitious biographical composition, “ATTENTION! (a narrative song cycle for extroverted mandolinist and orchestra).” He has also been focused on the production of a new musical variety show, “The Energy Curfew Music Hour.” Created with Claire Coffee and featuring Punch Brothers, season one is available on Audible and all podcasting platforms and season two will be released this fall.

For four years, Thile hosted public radio favorite “Live from Here with Chris Thile,” formerly known as “A Prairie Home Companion.”

This performance is supported in part by gifts from Clem and Georgia Carter and Elizabeth Hahn and Douglas Chancey. Additional funding is provided by the Dave & Judie Reemsnyder Center for the Arts Excellence Fund.

Related events

Join Thile for an engaging pre-concert question-and-answer session on music, storytelling, and self-exploration on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 4–4:45 p.m. in the Cube. The event is free, but registration is required.

Local old-time group Indian Run Stringband returns to the center for a pre-show performance on the patio, from 6:15-6:45 p.m. The band performs traditional songs and tunes — from the rare to the well-loved — sharing a passion for old-time music and life. Please note, the performance will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.

Tickets

Tickets are $25-$65 for general audience and $10 for students and youth 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased online; at the Center for the Arts box office, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; or by calling 540-231-5300 during box office hours.

Venue and parking information

The performance will be held in the center’s Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, located within the Street and Davis Performance Hall at 190 Alumni Mall. Convenient parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street and in downtown Blacksburg. Find more parking details online.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Jamie Wiggert at least 10 days prior to the event at 540-231-5300 or email wiggertj@vt.edu during regular business hours.