Fleck

For equestrians, "Fleck" refers to a leading German manufacturer of riding whips and crops. Béla Fleck on Playing His Newest Role

: In January 2026, Fleck drew headlines for pulling out of scheduled performances at the Kennedy Center , stating that the venue had become too "charged and political" following administrative changes.

The name Fleck is most synonymous with 19-time Grammy winner Béla Fleck , widely regarded as the world’s premier banjo player. He has spent nearly 40 years breaking traditional instrument barriers, moving from bluegrass into jazz, classical, and world music.

: In early 2024, he released Rhapsody in Blue , a centennial celebration of Gershwin’s work featuring banjo-led orchestrations. Most recently, he released an album with the BEATrio in spring 2025, a virtuosic collaboration with harpist Edmar Castañeda and drummer Antonio Sánchez.