Up Close with Kristen Capolino

Born in Simleul Silvanie, Romania on 26 November 1989, Kristen now resides in Woodstock, New York. From the earliest age, Kristen gravitated towards music, mostly guitar driven music, preferring a healthy dose of music videos mixed in with the normal kids intake of cartoons and Disney.  Even though there was a wide variety of music being played around the house, classical, Motown, oldies, show tunes, etc., it was becoming increasingly more apparent that hard driving, melodic and powerful guitar-based music was going to be her musical direction.

Kristen has shared the stage or recorded with some incredible names such as Lady Antebellum, Gavin DeGraw, Billy Sheehan, Bernie

Marsden, Corey Glover, Earl Slick, Steve Lukather, Mick Mars, Albert Lee, Ron Thal (Bumblefoot), Bret Michaels, Wyclef Jean, Kenny Greenberg, Michael Schenker Group, Les Paul, James Burton and Al DiMeola. 

In addition to the guitar, Kristen found that she enjoyed singing as well, so she immediately began working with some of the pre-eminent vocal coaches in the business to hone and further refine this facet of her talent with incredible results!  Kristen believes that singing and playing the guitar is great, but the essential element that brings that together is the creation of the “song”, therefore she has collaborated with some great songwriters and continues to do so in addition to solo songwriting.  Kristen has been the subject of many articles and

interviews and cherishes as a partial list of amazing experiences:

• Invited to participate in the James Burton International Guitar Festival at 19 years old!  James Burton was stunned by Kristen’s performance and could only mutter one word…” SMOKIN’”!
• Kristen was invited to participate in the PRS Experience.  Famed guitar-maker Paul Reed Smith was so blown away by Kristen’s performance at NAMM and gave her Al Dimeola’s guitar!
• She has been invited to participate in the Smithsonian Museum Celebration of Flag Day in Washington DC
• At just 16 years of age, Kristen was featured in a documentary about the world’s greatest guitar players called “Turn It Up”, where you can find Kristen’s segment is in between Les Paul and Slash!
• Invited to participate for 8 consecutive years in the “Westchester All Stars Christmas Concert for Wounded Veterans” sharing the
• stage with Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge), Bernie Williams (New York Yankees), Earl Slick (David Bowie), Gene Cornish (The Rascals), Vince Curatola (The Sopranos), John Sebastian (Lovin’ Spoonful), Tony Darrow (The Sopranos).
• Kristen has been featured in a documentary about the world’s best female guitar players called “She Rocks” and invited to give a “Master Class” performance with Jennifer Batten at Musicians Institute (MI) in CA.
• She has also been invited to play at the New Years Celebration in Nashville with Lady Antebellum and Gavin DeGraw.
• During the global instability of the last few years, Kristen continued to write music and produce videos.  Her writing matured greatly and led to the creation of some of her best works. The story continues!