Rhiannon Giddens is one of the most celebrated and influential artists working today. A two-time GRAMMY Award winner, Pulitzer Prize winner, MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and cultural advocate, Giddens has built an extraordinary career exploring the rich and often overlooked stories at the heart of American music. Through her artistry, she illuminates the contributions of musicians and traditions that have shaped the nation’s musical heritage while expanding the possibilities of folk, roots, and contemporary performance.
A founding member of the groundbreaking Carolina Chocolate Drops and the acclaimed ensemble Our Native Daughters, Giddens has earned international recognition for her powerful performances, masterful musicianship, and fearless artistic vision. Her work spans far beyond the concert stage, encompassing opera, ballet, film, television, podcasts, literature, and video games. She currently serves as Artistic Director of the Silkroad Ensemble, founded by Yo-Yo Ma, and continues to champion cultural understanding through music and storytelling.
Praised by Pitchfork as an artist for whom “few artists are so fearless and so ravenous in their exploration,” Giddens has been named one of NPR’s “25 Most Influential Women Musicians of the 21st Century,” while American Songwriter has called her “one of the most important musical minds currently walking the planet.” Whether interpreting traditional songs or creating groundbreaking new work, she offers audiences an unforgettable musical experience that is as inspiring as it is illuminating.