Cole Ritter is fast becoming a fixture at Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center. In recent years, the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has headlined everything from the MACC’s popular Sweet Summer Concert Series to its Merry Monthaven Christmas concert. Now, you can also find him in the MACC’s classrooms, working as the organization’s first official music teacher.
The popular Nashville-based performing artist is offering several music classes at Monthaven. They include guitar classes for both children and adults, along with instruction in fiddle playing. All classes guide the students through the fundamentals of music while also exploring a variety of popular styles.
“I believe that music is for everyone,” says Ritter. “It’s a language that allows us to express our deepest emotions.”
Ritter has been fluent in this language since early childhood. The Hendersonville, Tenn. native first took up violin at age 3 after seeing a group of school children performing at a street fair. “I loved the sound of the violin and decided on my own, with no prodding from my parents, that I had to learn this instrument.”
Before long, Ritter was studying violin through the Suzuki Method. By age 8, he was touring the Southeast with the Nashville Suzuki Players, which gave him the chance to play with both the Oakridge Boys and at Disney World. “Those experiences definitely ignited a fire and passion in me to be a musician.”
His family provided him with additional support and creative inspiration. His mom, a theater teacher at Station Camp High School in Hendersonville, sparked Ritter’s interest in pop, rock and folk music. From his grandmother, a pianist, Ritter was exposed to classical music and southern gospel. He learned about 1950s-style crooning, rockabilly and bluegrass from his father.
Ritter discovered guitar at age 13. “I took up guitar because I wanted to connect with other kids my age,” Ritter recalls. “I’m still making new connections and new friends through music today. That’s one of the great things about class guitar. It’s a social gathering as well as a music class, which means there’s more fun and less pressure.”
Ritter knows a thing or two about pressure. During the spring of 2022, Ritter became a contestant on the hit television series American Idol. Then a Belmont University music student, Ritter suddenly found himself in a room with a star-studded panel of judges that included Lionel Ritchie, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry. His performance of “Georgia On My Mind” impressed the judges enough to refer to him as “the Michael Bublé of the guitar.”
Ritter made an even bigger impression during the Duet Round of the competition. He joined forces with Tennessee native HunterGirl to give a deeply felt rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.” That performance won a standing ovation from judges and audience members alike.
“Performing on American Idol was a terrifying experience,” Ritter says. “But it was also very validating. People everywhere were taking me seriously as an artist.”
Not that Ritter should have needed any extra validation. While at Belmont, Ritter and his band The Night OwlOns entered the university’s musical showcase and won first place in the “country music” category. Cole Ritter and The Night Owls continue to be a popular draw at venues across the South and Midwest. Recently, Ritter has also started touring with a new string trio called Domino, which performs an appealing mix of bluegrass, jazz and Western swing.
When he’s not on the road, Ritter, of course, will be at Monthaven, working to train and inspire a new generation of musicians.
“Cole Ritter’s presence in our education department is invaluable,” says MACC Deputy Director Tonya Mirtes. “His expertise and dedication to music education deeply enrich the learning experience for our students. With Cole’s guidance, we’re fostering a love for music that will resonate for years to come.”
One more thing about Cole Ritter: he may be best known nationally for his appearance on American Idol. But he insists that these performances do not represent the pinnacle of his career to date. His proudest moment came in March 2024, in a concert with the singer-songwriter Sierra Ferrell at Nashville’s most storied venue, Ryman Auditorium.
“Performing with Sierra at the Ryman is definitely a career highlight,” says Ritter. “Any performance at the Ryman is a dream come true.”