Hi, I’m Sophie!
I am a Middle Tennessee violinist and fiddler with experience in a variety of styles including Celtic, old-time, classical, bluegrass, country, and church music. In addition to teaching at Dow Street Community Music School and performing as a professional violinist, I am actively pursuing my dream of illustrating children's books.
I have played the violin/fiddle for over thirteen years and play regularly at weddings, contra dances, farmers markets, and studio sessions around Middle Tennessee. My most recent album is The Butterfly, a collection of my favorite old-time and Celtic fiddle tunes.
As a Christian, I strive to encourage, delight, and inspire others and glorify God through my work. On my blog you’ll find art, fiddle videos, recipes, wildflowers, poems, and more!
When did you start fiddling? I began playing the fiddle when I was nine years old. My parents did a wonderful job exposing me to many genres of music, and I began playing by ear before learning to read sheet music. I began taking lessons with Jim and Inge Wood at age twelve and discovered a love for other instruments as well, including viola, guitar, mandolin, cello, and voice.
Where have you performed? I gained experience playing at local contra dances, in church, and various events around Middle Tennessee and Northern Alabama. I played with several bands in high school, including an old-time string band, a Bluegrass band, and a Celtic-Americana band. I have played on TV multiple times, including on Alabama Public Television. In 2020, I recorded my first album, titled The Butterfly, a collection of my favorite old-time and Celtic fiddle tunes. I have also taught beginning and intermediate fiddle lessons at the Huntsville Strings Shop.
Where do you currently perform? I play regularly at weddings, contra dances, farmers markets, and events around Middle Tennessee. For bookings or questions, please email sophiebuckmusic@gmail.com.
When did you begin making art? I have loved drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. My mom often read aloud to us as kids, and some of my favorite children’s books were the Beatrix Potter stories. During our time together, I loved drawing horses, birds, cats, flowers, and butterflies. As I got older, I began to hone my skills by making art for the Lincoln County Fair. In high school I was commissioned to paint a city mural for my hometown (Fayetteville). My artwork has received multiple awards in The Tennessee Magazine, and my photography has also been featured in Birds and Blooms magazine.
How did you learn to draw? Mostly by practicing. When I was learning to read, we found out that I had dyslexia. My parents helped me work past the dyslexia by using the Davis Dyslexia Method from Ron Davis’ book, The Gift of Dyslexia. This approach helped me tremendously, and to this day I rarely struggle with reading or writing. In high school, I took art lessons from a dear friend named Ms. Nancy Sims. My mom and I used to stop by her house on our way to music lessons, drink coffee, make art, and talk about life. What fond memories!
Where do you find your inspiration? Wildflowers, birds, and butterflies are my greatest inspirations. As a child, I found endless entertainment in flipping through wildflower books and exploring the woods and fields near our house. I love the charm of country life and strive to reflect the beauty of nature in all my work.
What is your favorite medium? I primarily use watercolor and colored pencil to achieve soft, light-filled illustrations. I love charcoal and pastels for portraits and acrylic for flowers. Recently I have been learning to combine digital and traditional means of illustration.
What are your plans as an artist? I am actively pursuing my dream of illustrating children’s books. I plan to sell my art online, publish my children’s book series, and create work for local galleries and shows.
