Crystal Plohman began her musical training at the age of six in the Suzuki violin program at Brandon University, Manitoba, Canada.  Having grown up in a musical household with a fiddling champion for a father, Crystal quickly progressed in both the classical and folk music scene.  By age seven, Crystal was competing in weekend fiddling competitions across the continent.  She won her first Canadian national competition and released two solo recordings before turning thirteen.  Through over 18 years of North American competition, Crystal has won hundreds of awards and titles including state and international titles.  She was the only person to place as a top four finalist at both the Canadian and American Grand Masters Competitions.  Crystal continues to be involved in competition as a judge and guest entertainer.

In recent years, Crystal has shown her versatility as a performing artist across many styles of music.  Now in Nashville, Tennessee, Crystal has worked with the city's top musicians including Vassar Clements, Buddy Spicher, Mark O'Connor, Bela Fleck and the legendary Chet Atkins.  She appeared in a CBS Primetime Television special celebrating the Grand Ole Opry's 70th Anniversary where she shared the stage with Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Pam Tillis and Vince Gill.  She toured with the country group She-Daisy, appeared at Disney World in a Norwegian music band, and traveled through Ireland and Japan as a featured bluegrass artist.  In January 2000, Crystal added a starring role in the Celtic theatrical production The Needfire in Toronto's theater district to her wealth of performing experience.

Crystal is currently the Fiddling Program Director at Vanderbilt University and clinician with Knilling String Instruments.  In her role as an educator, Crystal motivates students to step outside the boundaries of classical music and open their minds to new concepts in playing violin.  She places emphasis on proper "classical" technique and introduces the freedom of improvisation to students by using simple blues, traditional folk, country and contemporary music.  Crystal is enthusiastic about using her violin to effectively demonstrate the "connections" between conventional classical music and contemporary styles including: bluegrass, country, Celtic, Cajun, old-time, alternative and rock.  Her clinic series with Knilling is appropriately titled Connecting the Strings.  Crystal is dedicated to helping students find the freedom to express themselves passionately through their music and develop their own personal style.  She is a member of ASTA (American String Teachers Association) and is actively working with teachers to bring this music to their students.

Crystal is in the process of recording a new CD of Celtic and other world music.  Her CD is scheduled for release later this year.  She is also busy planning her performance and clinic schedule for 2003-2004 and organizing the 2nd Annual International Summer Fiddle School, scheduled for July 27 to August 2nd, 2003 at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.