Chris Daring
Encyclopedia
Chris Daring is an American
musician
primarily known for her work as a performer and teacher of the Texas style of fiddling
, a predominant style of fiddling in the United States. She is the first woman to win the National Adult Old-Time Fiddle Championship, in 1996. Daring's students include several champion fiddlers, and she was one of the first music teachers to work with students over the Internet, through the use of webcam
s and iChat
or AOL Instant Messenger
.
Born Chris Vance in Hayti
, Missouri
, Daring's parents moved the family to the Chicago
suburb of Elgin
, Illinois
when she was six years old. Her father became a tool and die maker and her mother eventually became an executive with Knowles Electronics. Daring's grandfather, Travis Vance, was a minor country music recording artist who performed throughout the southeastern United States. She studied classical violin
from grade school through high school.
After mostly leaving the violin world behind to learn fiddling, Daring recorded an album in 1988 with the Nashville Superpickers on which she was featured as the solo artist. The Superpickers were award winning solo musicians themselves and often provided the backup on Chet Atkins
’ albums. According to the projects co-producer, this was the first time in 15 years the Superpickers name was authorized for use to someone other than Atkins. Notable Superpickers members appearing on this album included guitar player Jack Solomon and drummer Roy Yeager
. Dale Morris, the album's co-producer and the group's second fiddler, was the impetus for Daring's desire to learn to fiddle. Chris was taught by Dale's brother, Terry Morris.
In 1995, Daring was injured during a performance. She injured her neck and crushed the nerves in her left arm that control her left hand. As a result, she was forced to focus more on teaching than performing.
Daring has taught fiddling at the University of Colorado at Denver and the University of Southern Colorado at Pueblo
(now known as Colorado State University-Pueblo). As a teacher, Daring has been designated a Master Artist in fiddling by the National Endowment for the Arts
and the Colorado Council on the Arts
. Many of her students have become state, regional, and national fiddling champions in their respective age groups.
Daring's second album, released in 1997, included her husband and teenage children as accompanying musicians under the name Chris Daring and the Whole Nine Yards. The group provided music during the private dinner of eight world leaders and their wives at the conclusion of the 23rd G8 summit
held in Denver, Colorado
in 1997.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
primarily known for her work as a performer and teacher of the Texas style of fiddling
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
, a predominant style of fiddling in the United States. She is the first woman to win the National Adult Old-Time Fiddle Championship, in 1996. Daring's students include several champion fiddlers, and she was one of the first music teachers to work with students over the Internet, through the use of webcam
Webcam
A webcam is a video camera that feeds its images in real time to a computer or computer network, often via USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi.Their most popular use is the establishment of video links, permitting computers to act as videophones or videoconference stations. This common use as a video camera...
s and iChat
IChat
iChat is an instant messaging software application developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its Mac OS X operating system. It has audio, video and screen-sharing capabilities as well as text messaging...
or AOL Instant Messenger
AOL Instant Messenger
AOL Instant Messenger is an instant messaging and presence computer program which uses the proprietary OSCAR instant messaging protocol and the TOC protocol to allow registered users to communicate in real time. It was released by AOL in May 1997...
.
Born Chris Vance in Hayti
Hayti, Missouri
Hayti is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,207 at the 2000 census.In 1955, a small earthquake broke windows in the village.- Geography :Hayti is located at ....
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, Daring's parents moved the family to the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
suburb of Elgin
Elgin, Illinois
Elgin is a city in northern Illinois located roughly northwest of Chicago on the Fox River. Most of Elgin lies within Kane County, Illinois, with a portion in Cook County, Illinois...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
when she was six years old. Her father became a tool and die maker and her mother eventually became an executive with Knowles Electronics. Daring's grandfather, Travis Vance, was a minor country music recording artist who performed throughout the southeastern United States. She studied classical violin
Musical styles (violin)
-Classical music:Since the Baroque era the violin has been one of the most important of all instruments in classical music, for several reasons. The tone of the violin stands out above other instruments, making it appropriate for playing a melody line. In the hands of a good player, the violin...
from grade school through high school.
After mostly leaving the violin world behind to learn fiddling, Daring recorded an album in 1988 with the Nashville Superpickers on which she was featured as the solo artist. The Superpickers were award winning solo musicians themselves and often provided the backup on Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
’ albums. According to the projects co-producer, this was the first time in 15 years the Superpickers name was authorized for use to someone other than Atkins. Notable Superpickers members appearing on this album included guitar player Jack Solomon and drummer Roy Yeager
Roy Yeager
Roy Yeager is an American musician.His musical career started off when he moved to Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 14. Roy met Bobby Sowell in high school in 1964 and soon they were playing gigs, as a duo and with bands...
. Dale Morris, the album's co-producer and the group's second fiddler, was the impetus for Daring's desire to learn to fiddle. Chris was taught by Dale's brother, Terry Morris.
In 1995, Daring was injured during a performance. She injured her neck and crushed the nerves in her left arm that control her left hand. As a result, she was forced to focus more on teaching than performing.
Daring has taught fiddling at the University of Colorado at Denver and the University of Southern Colorado at Pueblo
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
(now known as Colorado State University-Pueblo). As a teacher, Daring has been designated a Master Artist in fiddling by the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
and the Colorado Council on the Arts
Colorado Council on the Arts
The Colorado Council on the Arts is an agency of the state government of Colorado, responsible for the promotion of the arts. Its budget combines state funds with federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Its offices are located in Denver. As of September, 2006, the current director...
. Many of her students have become state, regional, and national fiddling champions in their respective age groups.
Daring's second album, released in 1997, included her husband and teenage children as accompanying musicians under the name Chris Daring and the Whole Nine Yards. The group provided music during the private dinner of eight world leaders and their wives at the conclusion of the 23rd G8 summit
23rd G8 summit
The 23rd G8 summit was held from June 20 to 22, 1997 in Denver, Colorado, United States. The venue was the newly constructed Denver Public Library in downtown Denver...
held in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
in 1997.
External links
- Official site including procedures for online lessons
- The Bow Genie A patented invention by Daring to help fiddlers and violinists learn a correct bow hold.
- Daring bio as judge at Grand Lake National Fiddle Fest