Music has always been at the heart of the Green family. What began as a simple desire to serve their church with hymns and worship songs has blossomed into something far beyond what they could have imagined. Today, Strings of Green stands as one of bluegrass music’s most exciting young acts, proving that authentic family harmony—both musical and personal—creates something truly special.
Based in Beckley, West Virginia, Strings of Green made history in January 2026 as winners of the SPBGMA International Band Championship in Nashville, Tennessee. What makes this achievement particularly remarkable is that two of the band’s members were preteens at the time, showcasing a level of musicianship and maturity that has captivated audiences across the country.
The Band
Brandon Green leads the family on banjo, dobro, and guitar. A two-time National Bluegrass Banjo Champion (2014, 2024), Brandon brings over 20 years of musical expertise to every performance. His accolades include winning the first annual Southeast Banjo Championship across three instruments, placing third in the 2025 International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship, and earning multiple West Virginia Vandalia Gathering banjo titles. Beyond performing, Brandon spent over a decade as faculty at East Tennessee State University, where he taught in the Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies program. He has toured with acclaimed acts including the Abrams Brothers, the Darrell Webb Band, and Jonathan Buckner & Chosen Road.
Josiah Green, 18, serves as the rhythmic backbone of the band on percussion and guitar. A talented composer, Josiah writes original music that adds a fresh voice to the band’s traditional bluegrass foundation. Though he played drums for most of the band’s early years, he recently transitioned to bluegrass rhythm guitar, quickly mastering the style just in time for their championship run.
Ezekiel Green, 12, commands the mandolin with skill far beyond his years. Already a 2025 West Virginia Vandalia Gathering mandolin champion, Ezekiel earned second place at the 2025 Galax Old Fiddlers’ Convention Youth Mandolin Contest and first place at the inaugural Southeast Banjo Championships mandolin division.
Ezra Green, 11, holds down the low end on upright bass. A second-place winner in the youth division of the first annual Southeast Banjo Championship, Ezra made the switch from uke-bass to upright bass specifically to prepare for the SPBGMA competition, building up his calluses and his chops in the months leading up to their historic win.
Two more young Greens are already learning their craft: Malachi, 8, on guitar and dobro, and Moriah, 6, on fiddle. The future of Strings of Green continues to grow.
Our Story
Five years ago, while attending a large church in East Tennessee, the Greens felt called to provide music for a much smaller offshoot congregation. Week after week, they would learn six or seven hymns and worship songs, practicing together as a family to serve their church community. What started as an act of service became something more—a shared passion that drew them closer together and revealed just how special their combined talents could be.
As word spread about the family band, opportunities began to open up. Country markets, restaurants, and local venues across East Tennessee welcomed them, and their repertoire expanded beyond traditional hymns to encompass the rich heritage of bluegrass music. With each performance, the boys grew more confident, their skills sharpened, and their love for the music deepened.
The idea to compete at SPBGMA came during a family trip to the Walnut Valley Festival in Kansas in September 2025. It was an ambitious goal—the competition is known for launching the careers of acts who go on to major recording contracts. Past winners include Brand New Strings, Mountain Faith, Flatt Lonesome, Blue Mafia, and High Fidelity. But the Greens decided to go for it, and in the months that followed, they worked harder than ever. Josiah focused on transitioning from drums to rhythm guitar, Ezra traded his uke-bass for an upright and built up the calluses needed for serious playing, and the entire family committed to bringing their best to Nashville.
When their name was called as winners in January 2026, they could hardly believe it. Even now, they’re still processing what they’ve accomplished.
Read more about our SPBGMA win in Bluegrass Today
What We Do
You’ll find Strings of Green performing at churches, weddings, festivals, and a variety of other venues throughout West Virginia and beyond. Whether it’s a traditional bluegrass standard, an old hymn, or one of Josiah’s original compositions, every song is played with heart, precision, and the unmistakable chemistry that only a family band can bring.
We’re honored to share our music with you, and we’re grateful for every opportunity to play. This is just the beginning of our journey, and we invite you to be part of it.