Eisenson Family Prize for American Roots Music Names 2025 Recipient

Fiddler Brittany Haas will undertake a residency at Berklee this April

Fiddler Brittany Haas has been named as the recipient of the 2025 Eisenson Family Prize for American Roots Music, which will allow her to undertake a short residency at Berklee College of Music.

The award was first established in 2016 by Bill Haney, in honor of former Berklee trustee Michael Eisenson, and its selection criteria are overseen by the renowned jazz and bluegrass fiddler Matt Glaser.

Hailing from Northern California, Haas became a touring musician at the age of 14, when she began playing as a member of Darol Anger’s Republic of Strings. She released her self-titled debut album just three years later.

Among her collaborators are musicians such as Bela Fleck, Vince Gill, Abigail Washburn, Dave Rawlings Machine, and Steve Martin and his bluegrass band — with whom she appeared on Late Night with David Letterman and Saturday Night Live.

She is a member of ensembles including Crooked Still, the GRAMMY Award-winning Punch Brothers, and her own band, Hawktail.

Haas will undertake her residency at Berklee from April 14 to 15, 2025 — during which she will work with students in ensembles, private lessons, and master classes.

Past recipients of the prize include multi-Grammy winner Molly Tuttle, Steve Martin Banjo Prize recipient Allison De Groot, Sierra Hull, Rhiannon Giddens, Jontavious Willis, Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton, and Laura Orshaw.

"Brittany is the voice of what fiddling has become and where it’s going, an artist who floats seamlessly and naturally and humbly between styles, while embracing and amplifying everything that’s beautiful about the instrument," said Bruce Molsky, visiting scholar of the American Roots Music Program. "We’re thrilled to welcome her to Berklee!"

"I am extremely honored to be receiving the Eisenson Family Prize," Haas said. "So many of my favorite musicians have taught at or attended Berklee College of Music, so it is a delight to get to visit those hallowed halls. I can't wait to hear what the students are up to."