Imagine a five -year -old kid picking up a mandolin for the very first time. He’s hanging out in a California pizza joint called that Pizza Place. And the local bluegrass band is ripping through their set when this kindergartner wanders up and just starts playing.

In 2012, he won a MacArthur genius grant. The MacArthur Foundation selects approximately 20 to 30 fellows each year from fields spanning sciences, arts, humanities, and activism. And receiving the recognition at age 31 was extraordinary.

• This kid didn’t just become good. He became like a force of nature in American music
• The mandolin is actually one of the most technically demanding instruments in the string family
• Chris Thile went from being a literal child prodigy to being called one of the most brilliant musicians of his generation
• The fact that he got a MacArthur genius grant before turning 32 is pretty wild
• He has played more genres and broken more musical boundaries than many people even know exist