Chris Talley

Chris Talley has been teaching since she was just 13 years old. She started on the harmonica when she was only 5 years old, and currently plays over 25 instruments.  She sings lead, tenor and baritone.  She plays traditional bluegrass and old time music, and her main instruments are banjo, fiddle and guitar.

Chris has won numerous banjo and fiddle contests, including the Illinois State Old Time Fiddle Championship, and the Illinois State Fair and ITCMA (Illinois Country Music Association) Illinois State Championship on both Banjo and Fiddle. She won her first ITCMA Illinois State Banjo Championship when she was just 14 years old. She also won SPGMA's Most Promising Banjo Player 16 and Under.

Though she has played extensively, Chris' main love is still teaching.  Chris has taught numerous workshops on music theory, harmony, jamming, fiddle, guitar, and banjo all across the United States and even once in Canada.  She co-taught a Band Camp Workshop in Springfield, IL with Pete Wernick. Some of her performances include a banjo duet with Alan Munde and Joe Carr at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas; the Sheldon Theatre in St. Louis; playing with Charlie Louvin at festivals and at the Louvin Brothers Museum in Nashville; and playing back stage at the Grand Ol' Opry.

The Chris Talley Trio produced six CDs during its 20 years of performances, and Chris has produced several of her own instructional CDs and DVDs for banjo and fiddle.  She owns a music store called The Bluegrass Shack in New Athens, IL, where she teaches various workshops, and private and group lessons.