Contact: Katryn Conlin, Director of Communications
651-385-6364 | kconlin@southeastmn.edu

Brian Christianson honored with Minnesota State College Southeast's 2025 Outstanding Alumni Award, Red Wing Campus

Winona, MN (May 19, 2025) -- Every year since 2005, Minnesota State College Southeast has honored one graduate from each campus -- Red Wing and Winona -- with the Outstanding Alumni Award, presented in recognition of outstanding personal and professional achievement and service to others.

At its Commencement Ceremony on May 16, Minnesota State College Southeast presented the 2025 Outstanding Alumni Award for the Red Wing campus to Brian Christianson, who graduated from the college's String Instrument Repair - Violin Specialty program in 2000.

After graduating, Christianson built a distinguished career in Nashville, servicing violin-family instruments from student-level to professional while performing on fiddle and mandolin with nationally known bluegrass and acoustic music groups.

Christianson worked as a luthier at The Violin Shop in Nashville, TN for many years. In 2011, he opened The Fiddle House, a full-service string shop and a gathering space for many musicians. The Fiddle House presented musical acts from all over the nation and hosted bluegrass, old-time and Irish jams several times a week.

While Christianson is renowned as a performer, he has continued his dedication to the art of violin repair and making. He has attended workshops at the Violin Society of America's annual conference, the Southern Violin Association Luthier Conference, and the "Learning Trade Secrets" luthier conference.

Not only does he make and repair violins, he has restored some of the most famous, historic instruments in American folk music - violins that belonged to Vassar Clements, Benny Martin, and "Uncle Penn" (Bill Monroe's mentor, Pendleton Vandiver).

Christianson has performed in countless fundraisers for schools, churches, animal shelters, Second Harvest Food Bank, and service organizations. He has also served as an advocate for the college. Working in highly-regarded shops in Nashville, Christianson had many opportunities to refer people who were interested in working with musical instruments to consider an education at Southeast. 

Speaking at the Commencement Ceremony on May 16, Brian Christianson said, "To our graduates, especially those emerging from the violin and guitar repair and building programs: Every instrument is a story waiting to be told. Today it continues with all Southeast graduates. Because you are also stories waiting to be told. Whether you go on to restore the past or build what's next, know this: your work matters -- and the music it makes, both literal and metaphorical -- can echo for a lifetime."

"Brian Christianson is celebrating his 25th anniversary as a professional luthier just as Minnesota State College Southeast marks its 50th year of teaching lutherie," said President Marsha Danielson. "His ability to recognize and uphold the highest standards of craftsmanship represents the core values that Southeast's string instrument programs have instilled in hundreds of graduates over the past five decades."

Originally from Austin, MN, Brian Christianson, his wife, and their daughter recently moved back to Minnesota to be closer to their families.

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About Minnesota State College Southeast

Located in the historic river towns of Red Wing and Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast is a community and technical college that provides a flexible, affordable, inclusive, and equitable college environment and offers a clear sense of direction to all students. College faculty and staff genuinely care about students' end goals, whether that be earning an academic award, transferring to university to complete a bachelor's degree, or attaining career skills. Minnesota State College Southeast is a member of the Minnesota State system.

At Minnesota State College Southeast, we believe college is for everyone. We believe in meeting students where they are. We believe every step toward reaching their educational goals should be simple and achievable.