Chris Thile

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 ver;cal harmony blurring into a single web of gossamer beauty” (New York Times).

Over the last couple of years, Thile toured with Nickel Creek in support of the critically acclaimed 2023 release Celebrants. Most recently, he has been captivating audiences with a playfully ambitious biographical composition entitled ATTENTION! (a narrative song cycle for extroverted mandolinist and orchestra), and has 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, with Season Two to be released in late fall 2025.

The wide-ranging program of Thile’s 2025-2026 solo performances will feature selections from his acclaimed solo recordings of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas – including the upcoming second volume out this autumn – alongside his signature post-genre blend of compositional rigor, folksy stagecraft, and improvisational brilliance.

Box Office, Tickets & Seating:
The Smith’s box office will be open for in person or over-the-phone sales Tuesday-Friday from 10am-4pm. Online tickets can be purchased at any time. All over the phone or online purchases will receive a digital ticket sent to your email. You must have a valid email to purchase tickets for this event. Our box office can be reached at 315-781-5483 or boxoffice@thesmith.org.

All sales are final. The Smith does not offer refunds nor do we resell tickets.