Noam Pikelny

Noam Pikelny is widely regarded as one of the most virtuosic and innovative banjo players in the world. Born in 1981 in Chicago, Illinois, Pikelny developed a deep love of music at an early age and began playing the banjo when he was only eight years old. Over the course of his career, he has worked with some of the biggest names in bluegrass and folk music, including Chris Thile, Bela Fleck, and John Cowan.

Pikelny first gained national attention as a member of the John Cowan Band, with whom he toured extensively and recorded several critically acclaimed albums. He later joined the cult favorite Leftover Salmon, lending his unique blend of technical skill, rhythmic dexterity, and lightning-fast improvisation to that band’s already rich sound.

It was with the Punch Brothers, however, that Pikelny truly came into his own as a musician. Alongside fellow members Chris Thile, Gabe Witcher, Paul Kowert, and Chris Eldridge, Pikelny helped to redefine the possibilities of what a banjo could do in a band setting. With the Punch Brothers, he has pushed the limits of his instrument in ways that few thought possible, blending complex melodies, churning rhythms, and stunningly intricate solos into a sound that is both riveting and unmistakable.

As a solo artist, Pikelny has released several highly acclaimed albums, including “Beat the Devil and Carry a Rail” and “Noam Pikelny Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe.” He has been nominated for the Grammy Awards nine times, winning once in 2019 for Best Folk Album. Despite his many accolades and accomplishments, however, Pikelny remains deeply committed to his craft and is constantly seeking out new ways to expand the boundaries of what his beloved instrument can do.