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 violin/fiddle in church when I was nine years old. My teachers include Phil Sanders, Inge Wood, Jim Wood, Dr. Andrea Dawson, and Stephan Dudash. Over the years I have taken up other instruments as well, including viola, guitar, mandolin, cello, voice, and bodhrán.
Where have you performed? I gained experience playing at local contra dances, churches, and events around Middle Tennessee and Northern Alabama. In high school, I played with an old-time string band, a Bluegrass band, and a Celtic-Americana band. I have played on on Alabama Public Television and the Just Plain Living Show. In 2020, I recorded my first album, 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.
Where did your journey as an artist begin? 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 developed my skills by making art for the Lincoln County Fair. In high school I was commissioned to paint a city mural for my hometown. My artwork has received awards in The Tennessee Magazine and the Junior Duck Stamp Contest. 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 our dear, late friend, 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. In the future I plan to license my paintings, publish my children’s book series, and create work for local galleries and shows.
