|
Biography
Richard Greene, “one of the most innovative and influential fiddle players of all time,” grew up in Los Angeles and studied classical music until his encounter with the pyrotechnic fiddling of Scotty Stoneman; from then on Richard was a fiddler. He first attained prominence with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys in 1966 as one of Monroe's first “northern” band members; it was during this time that he perfected his invention of the 'chop', a rhythmic/melodic bowing technique now universally employed throughout the world of fiddling. Richard then went on to found the revolutionary Folk-Rock group Seatrain, pioneering the first use of the electric violin in Rock. His advanced technique and intense yet “cool” tone shocked audiences and prefigured such players as Jean-Luc Ponty and others, influencing a generation of fiddle players including Darol Anger, Alison Krauss, Sam Bush and Stuart Duncan.
Richard's return to acoustic music occasioned the invention of “New Grass” or “New Acoustic” instrumental music, now a mainstay throughout the world's acoustic music festivals. As one of Los Angeles' premier string session players he founded the trailblazing Greene String Quartet creating the first ever amalgam of Jazz-Folk-Rock-Chamber music and producing three seminal albums. His many acclaimed releases in the folk and bluegrass world have been honored with Grammy and IBMA awards, his CD Sales Tax Toddle was Grammy nominated for Bluegrass Album of Year.
Mr. Greene has lead seminars on all aspects of fiddling and violin playing nationwide. His instructional venues have included The Mancini Institute, the RockyGrass Academy, the Festival of Fiddle Tunes, the Mark O'Connor Fiddle Camp, the Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp, The Swannanoa Gathering, Strings Without Boundaries and dozens of ad hoc workshops throughout the year. Reaching out internationally, Richard Greene presented master classes for violin students playing in the Portuguese Metropolitan Orchestra in Lisbon in 2009. Mr. Greene's also has performed many of his original compositions for Bluegrass Violin and Orchestra with many ensembles throughout the country including his piece entitled “What If Mozart Played With Bill Monroe?”
OPERA America/Opera.ca Grants Awarded
Click here to learn more about OPERA America granting programs.
| GRANT NAME | YEAR | Opera for a New America | 1993 |
There are no productions for this artist in the Season Schedule of Performances which currently only dates back to 1991.
|
Artist Information
All information is derived from OPERA America's Season Schedule of Performances and titles databases which date back to 1991. OPERA America is constantly updating this data. If you feel that a work or an artist has been omitted or that information is incorrect, please use the linked forms below. Title Information Form Artist Information Form
|