CSM Faculty
Bethany Houts
Fiddle and Violin
Bethany has been playing violin for 45 years and performing professionally for over 25 of those. Her instruction began under a Julliard graduate where she was taught a combination of Suzuki, sight reading and ear training. Playing with the Murray State Orchestra, the Paducah Symphony and currently the Central Oregon Symphony, her classical training and performance continues today.
After seeing Mark O’Conner at the Louisville Bluegrass Festival, fiddling soon became a part of Bethany’s repertoire. She won her first fiddle contest at the age of 9 and began studying fiddle under Craig Duncan. Joining the Nashville Youth Symphony as first chair at the age of 13, her instruction continued through private lessons, with her love for fiddling as her focus.
At 16 she began performing at Opryland Theme Park in Nashville, TN and soon after began appearing in music videos, doing studio work and performing live around Nashville while attending college at Belmont School of Music.
Bethany spent a few years playing for Shane McAnally, opening for acts such as Martina McBride and Alabama while touring with other Nashville artists. Continuing her love for entertaining, she performed several years as fiddle player and lead vocalist in the Country Tonite stage show in Las Vegas and Pigeon Forge. After moving to Bend, Oregon in 2012, she created Bend Event Music, providing her the opportunity to integrate into the community, while also sharing her talents and knowledge. Bethany has been the Musical Director& Coordinator/Owner and Violinist of Bend Event Music for 10 years now, where she performs her own unique style of playing while creating the perfect soundtrack for every event.
Bethany is now the fiddle player/vocalist for the PNW band Toast&Jam. The group has had the privilege of opening for acts such as Vince Gill and Amy Grant, and recently performed live at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. Bethany recently joined Cascade School of Music as a fiddle instructor, with the hopes of sharing her love of music through teaching.