Greenbrier County Hero and famed violinist Russell Fallstad has been captivating audiences all over the world with his virtuosic performances for years, and in 2010, made Greenbrier County his home. A maestro with the strings, Russell’s spellbinding interpretations of both classical and contemporary works have earned him worldwide acclaim.
Russell founded the Fry Street String Quartet, mentoring with classical legends Isaac Stern, The Juilliard Quartet, and The Emerson Quartet. He subsequently toured and recorded with the Fry Street Quartet for 12 years and has played to audiences as large as 65,000 during NFL halftime shows, and has produced soundtracks for movies including “What the Night Can Do” filmed in Lewisburg in 2020.
Russell and his partner Mary and their son currently live in Lewisburg. Russell currently runs Heartstrings Academy teaching violin in Greenbrier County and Washington DC. He has taught young children at Northwestern University, The Western Springs School of Talent Education/Naperville Suzuki School, The Music Institute of Chicago; he has taught String Pedagogy at DePaul University. Russell founded the Suzuki Pedagogy Program at Utah State University’s Caine School of the Arts, as a member of their string college-level performance faculty for 7 years.
[WVDN] What attracted you to Greenbrier County, and why did you choose to make it your home?
[Russell] After touring concerts all over the country and world, I was looking for a quiet place to rest. I remember having been in West Virginia for several concerts, and loving the nature and the people.
[WVDN] Can you share some specific aspects of Greenbrier County that you love and appreciate?
[Russell] Small-town vibes and kindness, with lots of arts, culture, and interesting people.
[WVDN] How has living in Greenbrier County positively impacted your quality of life?
[Russell] I love that we can live a low-stress, quiet life, where we know our neighbors and can get out in nature in minutes! Great for raising kids
[WVDN] Are there any unique community events or traditions in Greenbrier County that you particularly enjoy being a part of?
[Russell] The music scene is what surprised me most about the area!—there are more musicians per capita than just about anywhere I’ve visited.
[WVDN] What are some outdoor recreational activities or natural attractions in Greenbrier County that you find captivating?
[Russell] My son and I love to ride ATV’s in the woods next to our house, and on Muddy Creek Mountain. My family loves to hike and camp in The Cranberry Glades, Dolly Sods, Fayetteville, The Greenbrier State Forest, The Greenbrier Rover Trail, etc, etc, etc!
[WVDN] How would you describe the sense of community in Greenbrier County and the relationships you’ve formed with your neighbors?
[Russell] I love that we feel safe in our neighborhood and know and like our neighbors. There’s a feel that neighbors are looking out for one another. My son’s best friend and grandparents live less than a mile away, as is my work at Carnegie Hall. I know and like many of the local shop owners and business owners, and I find that people are kind to one another.
[WVDN] Are there any local businesses, restaurants, or shops in Greenbrier County that you frequent and adore? If so, what makes them special to you?
[Russell] I’ve been a longtime patron and fan of The Wild Bean/Thunderbird Tacos. I have many good memories from that place (including performing there!) and love the owners. Carnegie Hall has been my home the past several years, and is in a process of wonderful growth. We love to eat produce and meat food from the Courthouse Farmers’ Market, Swift Level Fine Meats, Rainbow Farm Chicken, Amy’s Market, Sunset Berry Farm, and and other wonderful local sources.
[WVDN] Have you found any hidden gems or lesser-known places in Greenbrier County that have become your favorite spots?
[Russell] We love to walk our dog, a Boston Terrier named Roxie, on the new trails behind Montwell Commons. And then stop up at Cakes and Cones for an ice cream.
Greenbrier County Hero is a weekly column highlighting interesting people living in Greenbrier County. The column was originally named “Meet a Greenbrier Countian” which ran in the WV Daily News for multiple decades. If you know of a person or organization that embodies the spirit of humanitarian service, volunteerism and or has exceptional talent, please let us know! Send your nominations to hero@wvdn.com.
