2024 Primrose Memorial Recital featuring Tabea Zimmermann!

In a rare visit to North America, one of the world’s most sought-after violists, Tabea Zimmermann, will be giving the Primrose Memorial Recital and Master Class this year at Brigham Young University. Huge “Thank You” to Dr. Claudine Bigelow and BYU for hosting this event!

The Primrose Memorial Concert will be a complete program for solo viola.  Zimmermann will feature 2 Bach Suites, Reger Sonata 1, Hindemith’s 1937 Solo Sonata, and a series of Kurtag-Ligeti movements.  The recital will take place on Monday, February 19, in the Music Building Concert Hall at BYU, with an early start time of 5 pm

The Master Class will take place on February 17th, from 2-4 pm, in room 4146 of the new Music Building at BYU.  Admission to both events is free.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear one of our viola heroes in an epic solo recital! Scroll down for the full schedule of events that week.

Tabea Zimmermann Viola Photo: Marco Borggreve

Here is the full week of events around Tabea Zimmermann’s Utah visit:

  • Saturday, February 17: Masterclass at Brigham Young University, 2:00-4:00 PM, BYU Music Building Room 4146
  • Monday, February 19: Primrose Memorial Concert – Solo Recital, 5:00 PM, BYU Concert Hall
  • Friday, February 23: Masterclass at University of Utah, Dumke Hall 12:00 PM
  • Friday, February 23 and Saturday February 24: Utah Symphony, U.S. Premiere of Michael Jarrell’s Émergences-Résurgences and Weber’s Andante and Hungarian Rondo, 7:30 PM, Abravanel Hall

Happy New Year from the UVS!

Dear Friends,
We had an absolutely great time at Viola Day in November!  We experienced the virtuoso artistry of our guest Toby Appel, along with an insightful and entertaining masterclass, and discussion about viola icon Rebecca Clarke.  We had fun catching up with colleagues from around the state, and had a room full of instruments to play.  What could make a bunch of violists happier?One more huge THANK YOU to everyone who made this possible:

  • Our Institutional Partners: the University of Utah and Utah State University.
  • Season Sponsors: Scoggins Violins and Salini Violins
  • Event Sponsors: Moroz Violins and Prier & Sons Violins 
  • All of you: the members of the Utah Viola Society!!!

As we turn the page into 2024, we are starting off with a lot of excitement.  One of the world’s great violists, Tabea Zimmermann, will be making a rare visit to North America, and spending a whole week in Utah!  Here is the preliminary list of events:

  • Saturday, February 17: Masterclass at Brigham Young University, 2:00-4:00 PM, BYU Music Building Room 4146
  • Monday, February 19: Primrose Memorial Concert – Solo Recital, 5:00 PM, BYU Concert Hall
  • Friday, February 23: Masterclass at University of Utah, 12:00 PM
  • Friday, February 23 and Saturday February 24: Utah Symphony, U.S. Premiere of Michael Jarrell’s Émergences-Résurgences and Weber’s Andante and Hungarian Rondo, 7:30 PM, Abravanel Hall

Hope to see you there!
UVS President Bradley Ottesen, on behalf of the UVS Team.

Sponsor Profile: Salini Violins

Dan Salini, Salini Violins 1609 S. Park Street
Salt Lake City , Utah 84105 By appointment: 801-949-6174 salini(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)xmission.com

https://www.saliniviolins.com/

How long have you been in Utah?

I have been in Utah for for 27 years, I moved here from Minneapolis in 1995. There were other many local makers to work alongside, and an environment of youthful, energetic creativity. The viola was the first instrument I made here in SLC!

What services does your shop provide, and is there an area that you specialize in?
I provide violins ,violas and cellos.

I make new instruments, and provide adjustments , bow rehairs and repairs. I have been doing my trade for 30 years and continue to learn each day. I consider myself very lucky to have worked with some of the best.

I have been told by many that I have a knack for adjusting and setting up instruments to reach the personal preference of the musician. I am a player myself and grew up in a family of musicians, so my goals is to communicate with my clients about ideas and concepts of sound, and then find the right playability for the individual.

Do you have a particular sound or concept that you are aiming for when you make violas? What do you love about the viola?
The sound and concept of my violas are to provide an instrument that is easy to play and have a character to the sound which both projects and has warmth.
I find the recent model I am making liberating in that I am playing with dimensions and wood choice. The basic model is that of an Amati. After I make my alterations it has deviated into my own personal model. So far it seems to be working quite well.
I love the viola because it can have so many variations in size sound and style.

Do you play music yourself?

I play steel guitar , guitar and fiddle (maybe I will switch to jazz viola). I have been lucky to know so many great musicians locally and nationally. These days I enjoy playing at home with the occasional gig out on the town.

Do you have hobbies or interests away from music and instruments?

I enjoy the mountains, and the wild west. I practice Tai Chi and enjoy casual bike rides. I feel like I need another century to scratch the surface of what this state has to offer. I really appreciate feeling a part of this community.

Dan’s newest viola is almost ready, and it’s going to be amazing! At Viola Day, you’ll be able to hear and play a locally-owned instrument, made from the same striking wood.

Sponsor Profile: Carrie Scoggins, Violin Maker

Carrie Scoggins, Violin Maker
By Appointment Only
7644 S Twin Lake Cir, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121
(801) 943-0496
scogginsviolins.com

How long have you been in Utah?

I first came to Utah in 1987 to attend the Violin Making School of America. I graduated in 1983 then taught at the school for four years before opening a shop near Liberty Park in 1988.

What services does your shop provide, and is there an area that you specialize in?

I focus on new making of violins, violas and cellos. Mainly violas and cellos.  I am also available for repair work.

What do you love about the viola, and do you have a particular sound or concept that you are aiming for when you make violas?

I grew up studying  the violin but started playing the viola in college and loved its’ deep, rich sound. When I started making violas here in Utah I built a number of them for David Daltons students at BYU. I learned a lot from those instruments and following the players through the years. What I focus on is building an instrument that is even across the register, speaks quickly, has a wide dynamic range, and colour to the voicing. Can you play pianissimo and still have clarity and be heard? A viola that is just loud, without colour to its voicing, is boring to me. A viola that can stand up to chamber music work must have character!

Do you play music yourself, and do you have hobbies or interests away from music and instruments?

Currently I play violin in the Salt Lake  Symphony. Outside of my work I love hiking and mountain biking.

Carrie will be bringing two beautiful, new instruments to Viola Day, pictured below!

This beauty is made from European maple. Body length 16 3/8″
The gorgeous one piece back is made from Big Leaf maple, out of Oregon. Body length 16 1/4.

In addition, she’ll be bringing a large viola made by Michael Scoggins in 2003, measuring in at 17 5/8!

Viola Day Schedule!

8:45-9:30: Check in (Front entrance, Thompson Hall)
9:30-11:30: Guest Artist Masterclass with Toby Appel
11:30-12:15 Pizza Party and Alto Clef Cookies!
12:15: Instrument Showcase with Utah Symphony Principal Violist Brant Bayless
1:00: Meet Your Maker – play all the violas!
2:00: Guest Artist Recital – Toby Appel, viola, with pianist Rieko Tsuchida and the Fry Street Quartet
3:00-3:30: Guest Artist Conversation, “My Friend, Rebecca”

PROGRAM
Johannes Brahms – Viola Quintet in F Major, Op. 88
Joaquin Turina – Scene Andalouse
Rebecca Clarke – Sonata for Viola and Piano

4:00: Bonus Event! Violist Alicia Valoti in Recital, Presented by the University of Utah*

*We have previously announced this event at 4:30. The correct time is 4:00.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The elevator in the Gardner Building is out of service. Dumke Hall (venue for masterclass, guest artist conversation, and recitals) will only be accessible by stairs.

Viola day theme: My Friend, Rebecca

Attention alto clef enthusiasts!! We are pleased to announce our focus for this Viola Day: the viola champion Rebecca Clarke! Our guest artist Toby Appel has a wonderful presentation to share on Viola Day about his relationship with Rebecca Clarke and her music, entitled “My Friend, Rebecca.”

Check out this superb recording of Toby Appel and Emmanuel Ax from 1976, playing the Rebecca Clarke Viola Sonata, which was relatively unknown at the time – what a gem!! Below is the link and some time stamps for your convenience:

https://www.wnyc.org/story/rebecca-clarke-90th-birthday/

8:00 Rebecca Clarke talks about composing the sonata for the Coolidge Competition.
12:00 Toby Appel and Emmanuel Ax perform the sonata, which they learned specifically for this broadcast celebrating Rebecca Clarke’s 90th birthday!
41:00 Toby and Emmanuel’s thoughts on the piece follow the performance.

And remember to mark your calendar for Viola Day on November 18! Schedule details coming next week!

Viola Day Guest Artist (and master chef) Toby Appel!

We are incredibly fortunate to have Toby Appel joining us for Viola Day this year! He is a renowned performer and faculty at The Juilliard School for more than 30 years. Fun fact – he is also a fantastic chef! Dr. Appel will be teaching a masterclass and performing a recital along with Rieko Tschuchida, piano, and the Fry Street Quartet. 

Toby Appel was born in Elmer, N.J., and was a winner of Young Concert Artists and has appeared throughout the U.S. and abroad as a recitalist, concerto soloist, and chamber musician. He was a former member of the Lenox, Audubon, and Tashi quartets and has appeared at the Angel Fire, Marlboro, Mostly Mozart, Chamber Music Northwest, Ravinia, Santa Fe, Seattle, and Great Mountains (Korea) festivals among others.

Appel is a frequent commentator for National Public Radio’s Performance Today program and he has recorded on the Columbia, Musical Heritage, Delos, Desto, Opus 1, and Koch International labels. He was formerly on the faculty of the State University of New York—Binghamton, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, University of New Mexico—Albuquerque, and Carnegie Mellon University. He trained at the Curtis Institute of Music with Max Aronoff and Joseph DePasquale and has been on the college faculty at Juilliard since 1990 and on the school’s Pre-College faculty since 1999.

Check out these YouTube videos to hear Dr. Appel’s incredible playing in the Turina piano sextet (the same piece that will be played at the viola day recital!), and to watch him cook an amazing meal while discussing the connection between food and music. Also be sure Viola Day is marked in your calendar for November 18, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.