Chris Madsen

Chris Madsen (born February 23, 1954) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, teacher, and writer from Vernon, British Columbia.

Career Madsen began playing the guitar at age six. At 24, he was voted "Most Advanced Guitarist" by The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and Yamaha International; in 1973 he became Yamaha's head of course development, teaching guitar workshops across Canada and heading the guitar department at the company's Vancouver school. He subsequently opened the Chris Madsen Music School in Vernon, which was in business from 1992 until 2010. The school employed 14 teachers and had over 350 students. in 1995.

Spiritual interests After the release of his album, Over the Years in 2001, Madsen's official comeback album in 2007, Seagull in Flight, won him the BCIMA a semi-annual interactive gathering devoted to physical and spiritual wellness. This wellness faire was featured on CHBC news in March 2011 and October 2011.

In March 2010, Madsen gave a spiritual workshop on the Infinite Sea of Possibilities at the Okanagan Centre for Spiritual Living in Vernon. On 20 August 2010, Madsen performed a concert at the Powerhouse Theatre in Vernon for the homeless and on 13 May 2011, he performed once more at the same theatre alongside his former guitar student, Canadian Artist Jodi Pederson, in a concert to help benefit the local woman's centre.

Madsen is also the author of the 2010 book and screenplay entitled Song of the Troubadour, a metaphysical romance novel set in medieval times. The album by this name won the 2011 BCIMA "Instrumental Recording of the Year" award. Madsen's 2011 album, Shoreline of the Heart, is under submission review for the 2012 Juno Award.

Discography 1983 – Black and White 2001 – Over the Years 2007 – Seagull in Flight 2010 – Instrumental Guitar Volume One 2010 – Instrumental Guitar Volume Two 2010 – Swamp Water Blues 2010 – Carfirmations 2010 – When Love Speaks 2010 – There's a World 2010 – Song of the Troubadour 2010 – Guided Meditations 2010 – Native Flute 2010 – Christmas Guitar 2011 – Shoreline of the Heart

Awards and recognition 1983 — Most Advanced Guitarist by Yamaha/Toronto Conservatory, "Taste of Spain" 2007 — BCIMA (British Columbia Indie Music Award) "Instrumental Group or Artist of the Year", "Seagull in Flight" 2011 — BCIMA (British Columbia Indie Music Award) "Instrumental Recording of the Year", "Song of the Troubadour"