Christopher Scott "Chris" Thile (/ˈθiːliː/ THEE-lee; born February 20, 1981) is an American virtuoso mandolinist, best known as the mandolinist and a singer for the progressive acoustic trio Nickel Creek and the acoustic folk/progressive bluegrass quintet Punch Brothers. He is a 2012 MacArthur Fellow. Beginning in 2016, he will become the host of A Prairie Home Companion.