Sophie Wellington is a Boston-based musician who draws inspiration from old time fiddle music, percussive dance, and jazz improvisation. These influences, along with her unique upbringing and training, lend to her unique sound and spontaneous approach to music.

 

Growing up in Staunton, VA, Sophie's love of music was  encouraged by her parents, concert pianist Lynne Mackey and old time musician and dance caller Bill Wellington. She was brought up in various community spaces including contra dances, choirs, music festivals and camps. These communities offered her the chance to generate and move to music both in performance settings and casually in sessions and collaborative gatherings. 

 

In 2021, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Berklee College of Music. She majored in Professional Music with concentrations in vocal jazz performance and the American Roots Music Program. Since graduating, Sophie recorded and released her debut solo record Roving Jewel, a collection of various sonic spaces that contribute to her quirky musical perspective. Old time fiiddle tunes, percussive dance duets, and vocal jazz standards mimic the eclectic energy reminiscent of the many music parties she's attended, where every room hosts a session of a different genre. Improvisation, specifically the intuitive expression of musical ideas, is at the heart of her approach to playing. By using this spontaneous element to interpret rhythm, harmony, and melody, she engages the listener – and the music itself – in a conversation.

 

Sophie travels extensively during the summers, attending festivals and camps. She is passionate about teaching, sharing a musical perspective that is based on building awareness through the connection of movement and music. In the summer and fall of 2023, she was a faculty member at various camps around the eastern United States. She taught advanced fiddle at the Blue Ridge Old Time Music Week at Mars Hill University, Earful of Fiddle in Rodney MI, Augusta Heritage Center's Old Time Music Week and Fall Old Time Retreat in historic Cass, WV.

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Sophie is a passionate performer with an innate and multi-dimensional understanding of how music moves, and how to innovate within sound and space, structure and form. In 2023 she was the recipient of a grant from Club Passim's Iguana Music Fund for her work integrating music and dance as a singular expression. She has also found success competing in fiddle and traditional song competitions. At Hoppin John Old Time and Bluegrass Festival in 2021, she won first place in three categories: Old Time Fiddle, Old Time Band, and Flatfooting. At the same festival in 2023, she won first place in the Folk Song category and fourth in Old Time Fiddle.

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In addition to playing solo programs, she plays in several bands including old time powerhouse Dumpster Debbie and classic country outfit The Talking Hearts. In 2024, she's thrilled to be joining acclaimed musician and storyteller Willi Carlisle for his album release tour Welcome To Critterland. She lends her support on fiddle, guitar, vocals and her own two feet (percussiv dance).