Chris McKhool

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.

Chris McKhool
Born	(1968-11-18) November 18, 1968 (age 56) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Classical, instrumental, world
Website	sultansofstring.com

Biography

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

• 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

• 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:

• 2009 JUNO Award nominee with Fiddlefire!
• 2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards - Children's Album of the Year with Fiddlefire!
• 2009 Parents' Choice Award with Fiddlefire!
• 2009 iParenting Media Award with Fiddlefire!
• 2009 Canadian Children's Book Centre 'Best of 2009' with Fiddlefire!^[45][46]

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