Chris Sexton ’97, ’10 chose Shenandoah because of its conservatory and the strong connection he felt after attending a performing arts camp at the university as a high school student.
Sexton’s fondest memories during his time at Shenandoah were his performances in Goodson Chapel.
“I’ve loved watching the campus grow and expand to the campus that it is today, but one building really holds my heart: Goodson Chapel,” said Sexton. “So many of my best memories come from the center of that recital hall floor as I’d pour my heart and soul into a performance.”
Sexton is a fiddler for the bluegrass band Nothin’ Fancy. He has performed throughout the United States and internationally with the band for 26 years. He has also recorded 17 full-length albums and two solo projects with Nothin’ Fancy.
In addition to being a fiddler for Nothin’ Fancy, Sexton also performs with the Roanoke Opera and the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. He has also held several other violinist roles with various other orchestras such as the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra, Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra and Maryland Symphony.
Some of Sexton’s most rewarding experiences in his career are performing the cello at the Grand Ole Opry and hearing his band’s music on Sirius XM’s Bluegrass Junction station. In 2015, Nothin’ Fancy was inducted into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame and in March 2024, Nothin’ Fancy was also honored by the Virginia General Assembly through House Resolution 330, which celebrated the band’s accomplishment of 30 years in the industry.
Sexton believes that his Shenandoah education prepared him for his career by all the insights into musicianship and artistry he received from his professors at the university. In his everyday work with Nothin’ Fancy, he uses three factors of study (chamber music, performance practices and singing) and he learned the knowledge and skill for these from his various classes. Those included, music theory, jazz improvisation, music history, chamber coaching and many more. He is especially thankful to Associate Professor of Voice (Tenor) Michael Forest ’85, ’86, M.M.Ed. for helping him become a better singer through his voice major now that he does harmony vocals in the band.
“In truth, I can’t just name only one professor,” said Sexton. “Every professor I had offered me new insights into musicianship and artistry. Most of these professors now enjoy retirement, but the legacy they left to hundreds of students lives on well beyond their careers, and their lessons definitely stayed with me.”
Sexton’s advice to current and future students is to diversify. “If you can play multiple instruments and/or multiple genres and styles, make that a selling point for your skills. Recognize that competition can be fierce, but your extra abilities might be what gives you the edge. Diversify what it means to be a performer: it might open up a completely different career field that is still related to your degree/field of study and be equally rewarding, if not more so.”