http://www.chrismadsen.comChris Madsen 'Affectionately known as the Troubadour' who brings Love and Light to the world in all ways through the gifts poured through his hands, Chris Madsen has been called 'Lord of the Strings' by one critic, 'Shear musical genius expressed through 6 strings, amazing' by another.
Chris's vision is that his works of art both within music and written composition of works such as "Song of the Troubadour" are designed to captivate and touch you to your core, filling you with the Love and Light you are, leaving each person refreshed and inspired. His sole purpose is to be Love and Light in all ways and to touch, move, and inspire you into being the same.
Chris's passion for composing works to express very real and honest expressions of life’s journeys is the passion that pours through him which transforms into Love and Light all whom it touches. He understands these works will be his legacy and strives to create works of art that will touch lives in powerful ways. Chris Madsen is an artist using the guitar as the medium for expressing the depth of feelings life takes us through. His works are a testimony to life’s journey, and a means of offering insights and comfort. Spiritually, Chris Madsen is an awakened being moving in Love/Light. Each moment of each day is a moment to resonate in a place of beauty and healing, a place of celebrating life.
Origin
Born ~ 23 February 1954 Missoula, MT
Genres
Easy Listening, Blues, Romantic Love Songs, Spiritual, Meditative, Acoustic Guitar
Years Active
1960 ~ present
Labels
Independent ~ Chris Madsen
Members
Chris Madsen ~ Master Guitarist/Composer
History
Chris Madsen first picked up the guitar at the age of 6. Playing it came natural with three older brothers that played quite often and Chris wanting to play like them. At the age of 8, Chris got his own guitar and no longer had to borrow his brothers. Since that time his life has been largely centered on mastering the instrument.
Born in Missoula, Montana, 23 February 1954, the family moved to Las Vegas when he was 6 months old. At the age of 2, they moved to Pasadena, California, at 13 years Chris moved to Huntington Beach and a couple of years later, with one brother and his parents, they moved to Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, later to Seattle, Washington. During this time there were also stints of living in the Vancouver, BC area.
At 16, Chris moved back to California and lived in Laguna Beach. Throughout these early formative years a passion developed for the guitar that motivated hours of playing the instrument each day. He played in coffeehouses, some odd street performances and whatever small gigs were available in Laguna Beach.
At 18 the final move to Canada came. Chris hitchhiked from Laguna and used his landed immigrant status to get across the border. He soon was immersed in the music scene and made a living playing small gigs etc. During this initial move to Canada he spent nearly a year in the Pemberton region living in a remote tipi on Owl Creek. Frequent trips to play in Vancouver coffeehouses etc. helped Chris sustain his need for guitar strings, axe handles, and the grocery bill. The many nights alone by the fire in the tipi was the perfect setting to hone his guitar skills even further.
At 19 Chris moved to the Vancouver region and immediately began teaching guitar and performing with his original songs. Soon after this he formed a lucrative career doing what his life passion had been all along. He is one of the fortunate few to have his passion be his career throughout his life from his teen years onward. Still to this day Chris’s motivation does not tire.
Personal life
Chris married Sue in 1977 and focused on staying in the Vancouver region to raise a family. He had 2 children during this time, Daniel and Shara. They moved to a country setting just outside of Vancouver and stayed there until 1992. During this time extensive teaching, performing, writing method books, recording original music, and studio musician work were his sources of income.
In 1992 Chris, his then wife Sue (divorced in 2003) and their 2 children moved to a country setting just North of Vernon, B.C. Canada. A love of horses was a primary reason for this spot along with other benefits the region had to offer. The Okanagan Valley is renowned for its beauty and laid back lifestyle.
Chris Madsen currently lives in Vernon, BC, Canada, yet is international in his offerings of beautiful music and the mission to raise the frequency of the planet. The music is instrumental solo guitar works, as well as, the deep soulful voice of all ages felt through his compositions. The listener is carried to far off lands. Feelings like seeing a rainbow after a storm, intimate moments, being in a garden with incredible flowers and summer breezes, and moments of spiritual awakening are felt within listening to the awe-inspiring sounds of Chris Madsen. In concert, Chris's music captivates and touches audiences to their core, filling them with the Love and Light they are, leaving each person refreshed and inspired.
Accomplishments
Chris Madsen's music goes beyond current genre names into a realm not yet labeled. Voted as Most Advanced Guitarist by Yamaha/Toronto Conservatory in the 80’s, Chris’s album “Seagull in Flight” was the winner of the BCIMA (British Columbia Interior Music Award) in the “Instrumental Group or Artist of the Year” category in 2007. For a second time in four years, Chris is now also the winner of the 2011 BCIMA “Instrumental Recording of the Year” for his album “Song of the Troubadour”. Chris continues to astound audiences as a Master Guitarist, with a wide variety of music spanning decades in skilled artistry.
Chris taught and worked for Yamaha Education for 8 years starting in the late 1970s. He was one of the primary developers of the Yamaha method books for guitar. His extensive teaching, performing, writing method books, recording original music, and studio musician work compliment his journey of whole, perfect, and complete body and soul wellness.
The Chris Madsen Music School in Vernon currently has approximately 400 students in weekly lessons. Chris Madsen and Tim Reardon founded the Music Educators Institute (MEI) in 1995 and today MEI teaches hundreds of students music credit courses online. Distance education schools all across North America access these courses for their fine arts credits. Today it is an energetic corporation.
Chris is also the current director of the Body Soul Wellness Faire, an annual interactive gathering of lightworkers whose purpose is to connect the Body and the Soul as one, bringing knowledge and empowerment through physical and spiritual wellness. Along with all these projects, there has been a consistent effort on the part of Chris Madsen to create works of art on the guitar as well as being the author of the book and screenplay entitled "Song of the Troubadour".
Press
Chris Madsen’s Acceptance Speech as winner of the 2011 BCIMA Award for “Instrumental Artist of the Year”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noQ0D-j_Bow
Article ~
BCIMA’s Have Got A Way (including mention of Chris Madsen being the winner for Instrumental Recording of the year and quotes from Chris), By Nenari Diamond, Gonzo Online 27 April 2011
Article ~
Big Night Out For Music (including mention of Chris Madsen being the winner for Instrumental Recording of the year and quotes from Chris), By Kristin Froneman, Vernon Morning Star 27 April 2011
Press Release ~ Chris Madsen Winner for Instrumental Recording of the Year 2011 BCIMA's on 23 April 2011
http://www.bcima.org/index.php/component/content/article/1-latest-news/80-wins
Article ~
Award nods go to familiar and new faces (including mention of Chris Madsen being nominated for Instrumental Album of the year), By Kristin Froneman, Vernon Morning Star 27 March 2011
Press Release ~
Chris Madsen Nominated for Instrumental Recording of the Year 2011 BCIMA's coming 23 April 2011 http://www.bcima.org/index.php/component/content/article/1-latest-news/72-noms
Article ~
Faire wakens community to soulful wellness options, By Jennifer Smith, Vernon Morning Star 04 March 2011
Article ~
Guitarist releases his Song of the Troubadour at Vertigo, Vernon Morning Star 30 November 2010
CBC Radio Features Chris Madsen
Chris Madsen in Black and White
Chris Madsen Facebook
Chris Madsen Okanagan Arts Spring Transformations 2008
Chris Madsen's Music featured on SISO Radio
Chris Madsen's Song of the Troubadour sketches by featured artist Destanne Morris
Billboard.com features This Moment by Chris Madsen
Chris Madsen ~ Music Video Channel Ad Clip (booking agent listed on this link no longer doing so. For more info, please contact chrismadsen84@yahoo.ca)
Discography
Chris Madsen CDBaby
Chris Madsen CD Universe
Chris Madsen Itunes
Tour
2011
22~24 October 2011 ~ Kelowna Wellness Faire, Kelowna, BC, Canada
http://www.kelownawellnessfair.com
19 August 2011 ~ Embrace Your Magnificence Concert, Inner Light Yoga Studio, Vernon, BC, Canada
13 May 2011 ~ Chris Madsen Concert benefit for Women's Centre~ featuring Jodi Pederson, Powerhouse Theatre, Vernon, BC, Canada
5~6 March 2011 ~ Body Soul Wellness Faire, Vernon, BC, Canada
2010
4 December 2010 ~ Song of the Troubadour Book Signing and CD Release, Gallery Vertigo, Vernon, BC, Canada
20 August 2010 ~ Chris Madsen Be the Change Concert, Powerhouse Theater, Vernon, BC, Canada
10 July 2010 ~ Satsang Celebration
1~2 May 2010 ~ Body Soul Wellness Faire, Vernon, BC, Canada
27 March 2010 ~ Infinite Sea of Possibilities Workshop, Okanagan Centre for Positive Living, Vernon, BC, Canada
2009
20 December 2009 ~ Private holiday party performance, Vernon, BC, Canada
13 November 2009 ~ Song of the Troubadour Concert, Vernon Performing Arts Centre, Vernon, BC, Canada
31 October ~ 1 November 2009 ~ Body Soul Wellness Faire, Vernon, BC, Canada
12 September 2009 ~ Extraordinary Wellness Festival, Lodge Inn Retreat Centre, Cherryville, BC, Canada
15 August 2009 ~ Chris Madsen and Anthony Burbidge Pasta Productions Concert, Okanagan Centre for Positive Living, Vernon, BC, Canada
19~20 June 2009 ~ Sedona Heartwalk Centre, Sedona, Arizona USA
10 June 2009 ~ InnerLight Yoga Studio performance, Vernon, BC, Canada
13 March 2009 ~ Extraordinary Wellness Festival, Lodge Inn Retreat Centre, Cherryville, BC, Canada
6~7 March 2009 ~ 2nd Annual Body Soul Wellness Faire, Vernon, BC, Canada
7 February 2009 ~ Guitar Workshop, Okanagan Centre for Positive Living, Vernon, BC, Canada
2008
8 November 2008 ~ William’s Lake, BC, Canada
4 October 2008 ~ Winery Festival, Vernon, BC, Canada
27 September 2008 ~ Festival, Vernon, BC, Canada
11~13 July 2008 ~ Cosmic Nudge Centre, Smithfield, Utah, USA
23 May 2008 ~ Celebrate Love & Light Event, Vernon Performing Arts Centre, Vernon, BC, Canada
5~6 April 2008 ~ 1st Annual Body Soul Wellness Faire, Vernon, BC, Canada
29 March 2008 ~ International Spiritual Experience Retreat, Sedona, AZ, USA
5 January 2008 ~ A Year to Create, Creekside Theatre, Lake Country, BC, Canada
2007
22~25 December 2007 ~ Holiday Performance, Long Beach Lodge, Tofino, BC, Canada
1 June 2007 ~ Seagull in Flight Concert, Vernon Performing Arts Centre, Vernon, BC, Canada
Similar artists
James Taylor
Bruce Cockburn
Peppino D'Agostino
References
Article ~
Guitarist Plays for Homeless, By Kristin Froneman, Vernon Morning Star 17 August 2010
Press Release ~
Workshop Looks at ‘Infinite Sea of Possibility’, Vernon Morning Star 04 March 2010
Article ~
Learning from Virtual Teachers By Diane Strandberg, The Tri-City News 28 January 2010
Article ~
Guitarist Reawakens as Troubadour By Cara Brady, Vernon Morning Star 31 October 2009
Article ~
Strings are His Thing, Vernon Morning Star 23 January 2009
Article ~
Love Lights the Way at Celebration By Katherine Mortimer, Vernon Morning Star 14 May 2008
Press Release ~
Tree Brewing Presents...2007 Okanagan Music Juno Award Nominees (in which Chris Madsen is nominated and subsequently wins for Instrumental Group or Artist of the Year) 20 September 2007
Article ~
Guitarist Finds Way Back to the Stage By Kristin Froneman, Vernon Morning Star 18 September 2004
MEI ~ Music Educators Institute
Body Soul Wellness Faire
Jodi Pederson recording under Chris Madsen's tutelage
Madsen Music School
External links
Chris Madsen Official Website