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Chris McKhool

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Chris McKhool
Born (1968-11-18) November 18, 1968 (age 56)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
GenresClassical, instrumental, world
Websitesultansofstring.com

Chris McKhool (born November 18, 1968) is a Canadian violinist, producer, guitarist, composer, and singer-songwriter. He has received numerous awards for his work, including three JUNO Award nominations and four Canadian Folk Music Awards for his various recordings.

Biography

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Chris McKhool was born in Ottawa and raised in a musical household. He began violin lessons at age 7, and studied classical violin under the tutelage of Joan Milkson of the National Arts Centre Orchestra from 1977 to 1985, as well as performing with the National Capital String Academy and teaching himself to play folk guitar.[citation needed] In 1985 he moved to Montreal to study at McGill University, obtaining a B.A. in psychology. McKhool moved to Toronto in 1993, studying jazz at York University.[1]

His work has earned three JUNO nominations[2] and seven Canadian Folk Music Awards.[3]

His compositions have been performed with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra,[4][citation needed] Chicago's Full Score Chamber Orchestra, and the Bangor Symphony[5] in the US, as well as with many Canadian symphonies including Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Niagara, North Bay, Windsor, and Kingston Symphony Orchestra.[citation needed]

In 2013 McKhool was presented with a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal[6] for his work in supporting community and music education programs for at-risk youth, as well as for his dedication to raising awareness of social and environmental issues through music.

In 2004, McKhool co-founded the world music collective Sultans of String,[7] with Kevin Laliberté and Drew Birston, releasing nine albums and winning multiple awards. Other band members have included Rosendo 'Chendy' Leon, and other special guests.

In 2015 McKhool produced the Sultans of String's 5th album with JUNO Award-winning engineer John "Beetle" Bailey, entitled Subcontinental Drift.[8] This album was made in collaboration with sitarist Anwar Khurshid; in 2016 the band toured across Canada, the United States and the UK with this formation, showcasing their collaboration. This album reached the Billboard World Music charts[9] in 2017. Subcontinental Drift also received a JUNO Award nomination in the World Music category[10] as well as their 3rd Canadian Folk Music Award for World Group of the year.

In 2017 McKhool and Bailey co-produced a world music Christmas album with Sultans of String entitled Christmas Caravan. They toured across North America in support of the album, which was included in the New York Times Holiday Hits section[11] and Spotify's Holiday Albums Hit List,[12] as well as hitting the Billboard World Music charts at #6.[13] Special guests included Richard Bona, Paddy Moloney (The Chieftains), Nikki Yanofsky, Ruben Blades, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Alex Cuba, as well as the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. His song "Sing For Kwanzaa" with collaborator Richard Bona won the 2017 Folk Music Ontario: Songs From The Heart Award[14] and the 2017 ISC International Songwriting Competition: World category[15]

McKhool has also performed for young audiences. His 2008 children's album Fiddlefire! won the Canadian Folk Music Award for Children's Album of the Year,[16] and was nominated for a JUNO Award.[17]

He created the world's largest bicycle bell orchestra in 2008, at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto with over 800 bell ringers.[18][better source needed]

Chris McKhool and Sultans of String are fundraising partners with the UNHCR[19] and have also fundraised on behalf of the Outreach Foundation to assist refugees both in their homelands and those displaced by war.[citation needed]

Discography

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  • Sultans of String: Walking Through the Fire (2023)
  • Sultans of String: Sanctuary (2021)
  • Sultans of String: Refuge (2020)
  • Sultans of String: Christmas Caravan (2017)
  • Sultans of String: Subcontinental Drift (2015)
  • Sultans of String: Symphony (2013)
  • Sultans of String: MOVE (September 1, 2011)
  • Sultans of String: Yalla Yalla (2009)
  • Chris McKhool: Fiddlefire! (2008)
  • Sultans of String: Luna (2007)
  • Chris McKhool: Celebrate! Holidays of the Global Village (2005)
  • Chris McKhool: Earth, Sea and Air (1996)

Awards and nominations

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  • 2025 Burlington Key to the City[20]
  • 2025 Canadian Folk Music Awards: nonimee for Ensemble of the Year[21]
  • 2025 Festivals & Events Ontario: winner Performer of The Year[22]
  • 2025 Festivals & Events Ontario: winner Innovation Award[22]
  • 2024 Cannes World Film Festival: winner Best Musical Film[23]
  • 2024 Cannes World Film Festival: winner Best Soundtrack[23]
  • 2024 Folk Music Ontario: nominee for Performing Artist of the Year[24]
  • 2024 Burlington Performing Arts Centre: Hall of Fame and Lifetime Achievement Award winner[25]
  • 2024 Merilaïnen Music Awards: Indigenous Ally of the Year winner[26]
  • 2023 International Songwriting Competition: finalist with Black Winged Raven, The Rez, and Nîmihito[27]
  • 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards: Global Roots Album of the Year with Sanctuary[28]
  • 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards: Producer of the Year with Sanctuary[28]
  • 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards: nominee for Pushing the Boundaries[28]
  • 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards: nominee for Contemporary Album[28]
  • 2022 Dr. Duke Redbird Lifetime Achievement Award: JAYU Arts For Human Rights[29]
  • 2022 Folk Music Ontario: winner Song of the Year for "Mi Santuario"[30]
  • 2022 Folk Music Ontario: nominee for Performer of the Year[30]
  • 2022 Cannes World Film Festival: winner Best Musical Film[31]
  • 2022 Burlington's Best Local Musician[32]
  • 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards: winner (with co-producer John 'Beetle' Bailey) for Producer of the Year with Refuge
  • 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards: nominee for Ensemble of the Year for "Refuge"
  • 2021 International Songwriting Competition: winner World Music for "Mi Santuario"[27]
  • 2020 Folk Music Ontario-Songwriting Award: Instrumental - "Refuge"
  • 2020 Folk Music Ontario-Songwriting Award: Political - "I Am a Refugee"
  • 2020 Independent Music Award: Instrumental Song of the Year -"The Grand Bazaar"
  • 2020 Independent Music Award: World Music Producer of the Year for "Refuge"
  • 2020 International Songwriting Competition: Instrumental[27]
  • 2020 International Songwriting Competition: World[27]
  • 2019 International Songwriting Competition: Folk semi-finals "Power of the Land"[27]
  • 2019 International Songwriting Competition: performance semi-finals "Power of the Land"[27]
  • 2018 Canadian Folk Music Awards: Producer of the Year nomination for McKhool[3]
  • 2017 New York Times Hits List with Christmas Caravan[11]
  • 2017 Billboard World Music Charts: Christmas Caravan CD hits #6[13]
  • 2017 Canadian Nielsen World Music Charts: Christmas Caravan CD hits #3
  • 2017 Folk Music Ontario: Songs From The Heart Award for "Sing For Kwanzaa" from Christmas Caravan[14]
  • 2017 Folk Music Ontario: Songs From The Heart Award for "Road to Kfarmishki"[14]
  • 2017 ISC International Songwriting Competition: World category for "Sing For Kwanzaa"[15]
  • 2017 JUNO Awards: Nominees for "World Music Album of the Year" for Subcontinental Drift[10]
  • 2017 Billboard World Music Charts: Subcontinental Drift CD hits #15[9]
  • 2016 Canadian Folk Music Awards: World Music Group of the Year
  • 2016 Global Music Awards: World Music/Beats
  • 2015 International Songwriting Competition (ISC) for "Ho Jamalo"[15]
  • 2015 JUNO Awards: Nominees for "Instrumental Album of the Year" for Symphony![33]
  • 2015 Toronto Independent Music Award: World Music[34]
  • 2014 SIRIUSXM Independent Music Awards Winner: World Group of the Year[35]
  • 2014 IMA Independent Music Award Winner: Instrumental Song for "Josie"[36]
  • 2014 IMA Independent Music Vox Pop Award: Music Producer (Chris McKhool) for Symphony![37]
  • 2013 ISC International Songwriting Competition: Instrumental category for "Monti's Revenge"[15]
  • 2013 Folk Music Ontario: Songs From The Heart Award for "Monti's Revenge"[14]
  • 2013 Festivals & Events: Performer of The Year
  • 2013 Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for bandleader Chris McKhool[6]
  • 2013 SiriusXM Canadian Indie Awards: Nominee for World Group of the Year[38]
  • 2012 Canadian Folk Music Awards: World Music Group of the Year
  • 2012 Canadian Folk Music Awards: nominees for Instrumental Group & Pushing the Boundaries[3]
  • 2012 Canadian Folk Music Awards: nominee for Producer of the Year (Chris McKhool)[3]
  • 2012 Folk Music Ontario: Songs From the Heart[14]
  • 2012 Festivals & Events: Entertainer of The Year
  • 2011 Ontario Contact: Artist of the Year[39]
  • 2011 International Acoustic Music Awards: Finalist for Instrumental
  • 2011 Independent Music Awards: 2× Finalist for Instrumental Album & World Beat Album (Yalla Yalla!)[40]
  • 2011 ISC International Songwriting Competition: 2× Finalist for Instrumental & World Music[15]
  • 2010 JUNO Awards: Nominees for "Instrumental Album of the Year" (Yalla Yalla!)[41]
  • 2010 Canadian Independent Music Awards: nominees for Favourite World Artist/Group[42]
  • 2009 International Songwriting Competition (ISC): First Place Winners for Instrumental[15]
  • 2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards: triple nominee winning Instrumental Group of the Year (also nominated for Ensemble of the Year and Pushing the Boundaries)[43]
  • 2009 Toronto Exclusive Magazine Awards: 2× Winner for Best Toronto World CD & Artist of the Year
  • 2008 International Songwriting Competition(ISC): Winner - Instrumental[15]
  • 2008 Festivals & Events Ontario: Best Variety Act
  • 2008 Canadian Independent Music Awards: Finalists for Favourite World Music Band
  • 2008 International Independent Music Awards: Finalists for Best World Fusion Song
  • 2007 Musique du Monde Award
  • 2007 Canadian Folk Music Awards: nominees for Best Instrumentalist Group
  • 2007 Ontario Independent Music Awards: Best Song & Best Instrumental
  • 2007 Toronto Independent Music Awards: nominees for World Music Category
  • 2006 Ontario Council of Folk Festivals - Songs of the Heart Competition Finalist
  • 2006 Parents' Choice Award for CD Celebrate! Holidays of the Global Village
  • 2005 Green Toronto Award of Excellence for Earth, Seas & Air Children's Concert
  • 2004 National Jazz Awards nomination (with Club Django, Trad. Jazz)
  • 2004 CIUT-FM Award for Outstanding Musical Accompanist (violin)
  • 1996 Parents' Choice Award for CD Earth, Seas & Air[44]

McKhool's 2008 children's album Fiddlefire! has been nominated for numerous awards, including:

For a list of awards with Sultans of String, see main article: Sultans of String

References

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  1. ^ "Music". Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  2. ^ "Sultans of String". The JUNO Awards. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  3. ^ a b c d "Nominees | Canadian Folk Music Awards". 25 September 2014. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  4. ^ "Annapolis Symphony Orchestra: 'Christmas Fiesta' With the Sultans of String". Goldstar. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  5. ^ Publishing, Turner (2017-03-14). "Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Sultans of String, Ghost of Paul Revere and others to play at Kingfield POPS". Maine News. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  6. ^ a b General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "Chris McKhool". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  7. ^ String, Sultans of. "Sultans of String". Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  8. ^ String, Sultans of. "Sultans of String Subcontinental Drift". Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  9. ^ a b "World Music: Top World Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  10. ^ a b "WORLD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR | Sultans of String". The JUNO Awards. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  11. ^ a b Pareles, Jon; Caramanica, Jon; Russonello, Giovanni; Ganz, Caryn (2017-11-29). "Holiday Hits, Christmas Comebacks and Some Jingle Bell Schlock". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  12. ^ "Sultans of String". Spotify. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  13. ^ a b "Sultans of String". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  14. ^ a b c d e "FMO Award Winners :: Folk Music Ontario". Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g "International Songwriting Competition | The #1 Song Contest for Songwriters". songwritingcompetition.com. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  16. ^ "Results 2009 | Canadian Folk Music Awards". 26 August 2008. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  17. ^ "2009 | Children's Album of the Year | Chris McKhool". The JUNO Awards. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  18. ^ Chris McKhool- creates the world's largest bicycle bell orchestra!, 2 July 2018, retrieved 2019-10-31
  19. ^ "Sultans of String use music to unite people and raise money for refugees". UNHCR Canada. 2019-01-30. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  20. ^ "Burlington Residents to be Honoured with Keys to the City". City of Burlington. April 15, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  21. ^ "Canadian Folk Music Awards Announces 2025 Nominees". Canadian Folk Music Awards. October 29, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  22. ^ a b "2025 Festivals & Events in Ontario Service Excellence Awards Announced". Festivals & Events Ontario. February 2025. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  23. ^ a b "Winners November 2024 World Film Festival in Cannes". World Film Festival in Cannes. November 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  24. ^ "Here are your nominees for the 2024 Ontario Folk Music Awards". Roots Music Canada. August 27, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  25. ^ "2024 BPAC Hall of Fame and Lifetime Achievement Award Winners Announced". Burlington Performing Arts Centre. June 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  26. ^ "Merilainen Music - Music Awards 2024". YouTube. March 22, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  27. ^ a b c d e f "Previous Winners". International Songwriting Competition. 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  28. ^ a b c d "Here are your 2023 Canadian Folk Music Award Winners from Sunday night". Roots Music Canada. April 2, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  29. ^ JAYU 2022 Annual Report (PDF). Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 2023.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  30. ^ a b "Here are your 2022 Ontario Folk Music Award nominees". Roots Music Canada. September 21, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  31. ^ "How COVID helped birth Sultans of String's award-winning documentary film". Roots Music Canada. November 25, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  32. ^ "SULTANS OF STRING Broadcast Cannes World Film Festival Winning Doc 'The Refuge Project' at Canadian Folk Music Awards in Vancouver". BK On the Scene. March 27, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  33. ^ "2015 | Instrumental Album of the Year | Sultans of String". The JUNO Awards. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  34. ^ "Toronto Independent Music Award Winners Announced". FYIMusicNews. 2015-10-27. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  35. ^ "2014 SiriusXM Indie Awards Winners Announced". 2020 Canadian Music Week. 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  36. ^ "Now Hear This! The Winners of The 13th Independent Music Awards". Bandcamp. 2014-06-27. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  37. ^ "THE 13TH ANNUAL INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS VOX POP WINNERS ANNOUNCED". Independent Music Awards. 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  38. ^ "2013 Indies Honour The Best In Independent Music With Awards And An Exclusive Headline Performance By Metric | Jim Beam INDIES with INDIE88". Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  39. ^ "Awards 2011 | Ontario Contact". ontariocontact.ca. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  40. ^ "10th Annual Independent Music Awards Nominees Announced!". Independent Music Awards. 2011-02-16. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  41. ^ "2010 | Instrumental Album of the Year | Sultans of String". The JUNO Awards. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  42. ^ "2010 Nominees/Winners | Jim Beam INDIES with INDIE88". Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  43. ^ "Results 2009 | Canadian Folk Music Awards". 26 August 2008. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  44. ^ "Chris McKhool - Fiddlefire: Children's environmental and multicultural music & Sultans of String Gypsy-Jazz-Flamenco Violin". Fiddlefire. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  45. ^ "Talent :: Fiddlefire (Canada)". Onya Soapbox. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  46. ^ "Medicine Wheel Magic Song-writing Workshop". shannonthunderbird.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
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