معرفی
Christen Blanton is a music educator and prize-winning fiddler affiliated with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNC-Greensboro) and the Academy at Lincoln Middle School in Greensboro, North Carolina. She directs the Old-Time Ensemble at UNC-Greensboro and serves as Orchestra Director at Lincoln Middle School, where she also teaches Music Production and leads the Global Music Ensemble and Vespa Strings. Dr. Blanton advocates for the inclusion of eclectic, vernacular, and popular music in string curricula through her role as co-chair of the American String Teachers Association Eclectic Styles Committee.
- Education:
- Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam
- Master of Music in Viola Performance from UNC-Greensboro
- Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education from UNC-Greensboro
Her research focuses on innovative music education practices and has been presented at conferences such as the Society for Music Teacher Education, International Society for Music Education, North Atlantic Fiddle Convention, and International Bluegrass Music Association. She is a co-founder of The Zinc Kings, a band recognized for top prizes at festivals including the Mount Airy Fiddlers Convention and Union Grove Old-Time Fiddlers and Bluegrass Festival.
Blanton’s professional development workshops and clinical engagements are frequently featured by the North Carolina Music Educators Association and the American String Teachers Association. Beyond academia, she actively promotes folk and roots music through performances and community engagement.
