Christopher Sexton is the owner and teacher of Sexton Music Studio, a private strings lesson facility in the heart of Old Town Manassas. Teaching violin, viola, cello as well as bluegrass fiddle, Chris has been teaching private and group lessons for more than a dozen years through Contemporary Music Center in Chantilly, Picker’s Supply in Fredericksburg, Foxes Music in Falls Church, American Children of SCORE in Warrenton, and through the Prince William and Fairfax County school systems. Now fully in his own studio, Chris is currently accepting new students for lessons in all skill levels. Chris excels in working with folks just starting out on an instrument, kids with challenging attention spans, home-schooled families, and middle and high schoolers looking for that added edge to compliment and build upon their orchestra classes. Christopher Sexton received his Bachelor of Music in Music Performance with a Minor in Voice from the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music (http://www.su.edu/conservatory) in Wi******er, Virginia in 1997. Chris followed that up with his Master of Music Pedagogy from the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in 2010, with a 3.90 GPA. In addition to his formal education, Chris also attended the Suzuki Institute in 1998 for teacher training, and also was on the bluegrass faculty for Common Ground on the Hill’s bluegrass camp (sponsored by the DC Bluegrass Union) in 2007. An accomplished performer widely recognized in his field, Chris has been a member of the award-winning bluegrass band Nothin’ Fancy (http://www.nothinfancybluegrass.com) since 1998. Nothin’ Fancy has grown into a regional touring force, and are the three-times running Bluegrass Entertainers of the Year SPBGMA (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music Association) award winners for 2008, 2009 and 2010. All told, Nothin’ Fancy has been nominated individually or as a group for no fewer than 33 SPGBMA, IBMA, and GMA Dove Awards. Chris has been honored to perform and work with many of the best and brightest in bluegrass, classical and chamber music as well as contemporary rock and popular music, including Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Sam Bush, Patty Loveless, the Manassas Ballet Theater, and the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra. Chris and Sexton Music Studio is a proud member of the Manassas Old Town Business Association (OTBA), Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), the National Association for Music Education (MENC), the Manassas Art Guild, Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music Association (SPBGMA), International Bluegrass Music Association (IMBA), and the DC Bluegrass Union (DCBU). A lifelong Northern Virginia local (yes, they still make those!), Chris makes his home in Manassas, just south of the Manassas National Battlefield Park. Chris is currently accepting new students in violin, viola, bluegrass fiddle and cello.
