Violist and string arranger Kristin Wilkinson looks back at her genre-spanning career with Museum writer-editor Jon Freeman. This program was recorded live on November 16, 2024, as part of the Museum’s Nashville Cats interview series, which highlights legendary musicians.

Throughout the program, Wilkinson speaks to the unexpected collaborations and musical experiences that have come about throughout her life because of her passion for the viola and string arranging. She discusses working with Alabama, Brandi Carlile, and Regina Spektor, as well as befriending Owen Bradley, scoring the Billy Bob Thorton film “All the Pretty Horses” alongside Marty Stuart, and contributing to Jewel’s breakout album, 1995’s “Pieces of You,” on Neil Young’s ranch. The program concludes with an ensemble performance by Wilkinson, Bill Miller, and Larry Paxton of Miller’s Native American–inspired compositions “Praises” and “Bird Song.”

Wilkinson has accumulated hundreds of high-profile credits on country, rock, and pop projects since the 1980s. As an arranger, she has worked on recordings with a wide swath of musicians, including Kenny Chesney, Steve Earle, Willie Nelson, and Trisha Yearwood. For live performances, Wilkinson has worked with everyone from Chris Stapleton to Greta Van Fleet. Country Music Hall of Fame member Marty Stuart has long worked with Wilkinson, employing her to arrange strings on his albums as well as for special events, including his 2019 residency at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. In addition to film scoring, Wilkinson has also done an extensive amount of work for television, including arrangements for the Country Music Association Awards, the annual “CMA Country Christmas” television special, and CMT’s Artists of the Year events.

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