Old-Time Jam with Christen Blanton

Christen is constantly in search of new fiddle tunes, folk songs, and ballads from diverse folk traditions. Christen has developed a love of songwriting over her years with The Zinc Kings, drawing on traditional song and dance forms to inspire a modern folk sensibility. In addition to prizes won with The Zinc Kings at festivals and conventions, Christen has won top prizes for fiddle and vocals at The Happy Valley Fiddlers Convention and the Charlie Poole Music Festival. Christen is a proud and seasoned music educator, holding degrees from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has combined her love of teaching, traditional music, and research by presenting clinics and workshops to students and teachers, most notably at the American String Teachers Association National Conference, the North Carolina Music Educators Association State Conference, the Southeast Honors Strings Festival, the International Bluegrass Music Association Conference, the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention, and the International Society for Music Education. Christen currently serves as the Director of the UNCG Old-Time Ensemble, teaching fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, bass, and other folk instruments in addition to coaching student bands in the old-time style and tradition. Christen will be hosting the Old Time Jam at the North Carolina Folk Festival this year!