BELA FLECK – Widely acknowledged today as one of the world’s most innovative and technically proficient banjo players, Fleck, like many banjoists of his generation, was inspired by Earl Scruggs’ appearance on the Beverly Hillbillies. A serious banjo student from the start, Fleck became firmly grounded in banjo tradition prior to exploring new musical territory with innovative groups such as the Newgrass Revival and the Flecktones. His solo endeavors have seen him successfully introduce the banjo into genres such as modern jazz and world music, with a certain high point being the 2011 premier of his Concerto For Banjo performed with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.