Who knew Halloween was a night for Viola Quintets?! Come hear Utah’s own Fry Street Quartet in concert with world renown viola soloist Roger Chase. The first half will feature Mr. Chase in recital, and the second half features the FSQ and Roger Chase performing the Mozart C Major String Quintet.
Friday, October 31
7:30 pm
The Performance Hall
Utah State University
Meet Madison Marshall, Mackie Moore, and Miriam Wagstaff. I just had the pleasure of listening to these lovely young ladies give a preview of their upcoming Viola Day performance. (Nothing makes me happier than this many violas in my house at once!) They are preparing the Beethoven Trio Op. 87 which was arranged by Lionel Tertis for viola trio. What a perfect piece to play for a Viola Weekend that will be topped off with a recital of music devoted to works composed for Tertis.
These fabulous young violists are currently students of Dr. David Dalton and Dr. Elizabeth Wallace. Madison says that she is really in love with the Rebecca Clarke Sonata (I know, who isn’t?!?) and she named her viola Mr. Darcy. (Oooh, a lover of English viola music in the making!) Mackie Moore is already taking college classes in history and algebra at Utah Valley University and fits viola in when she can. Her viola’s name is Uqu, which is curiously inscribed on the tag inside the viola. Miriam Wagstaff doesn’t have a name for her viola (neither do I, other than awesome!) but she is a competitive Irish step dancer with the Shelley School of Irish Dance. I should have had her show me some moves!
These talented young ladies will be performing on the ensemble recital as part of the Utah Viola Society’s Viola Day 2014!!! These young viola rock stars are truly great musicians in the making, and I’m really happy that they will be joining us for Viola Day 2014!!! Don’t miss it!
Dear Violists,
We have a schedule for Viola Day!!!! And the countdown begins!
Don’t forget to pay your dues in advance so that you can zip through the registration line!
Utah Viola Society
Viola Day!!!!2.0 November 1, Gardner Hall, University of Utah
9:00 Thompson Hall, first floor. Registration and visit exhibitors.
10:00 Dumke Recital Hall. Master class with Roger Chase, followed by Q&A
12:00 Pizza Lunch. Free for all attendees!
12:45 Meet your Maker. An exhibition of local luthiers and demonstration of their instruments, followed by the opportunity for instrument trials.
1:15 Lecture/performance. A presentation on scordatura in viola repertoire, given by Leslie Richards, DMA candidate at the University of Utah.
2:30 Viola Quintets, Old and New. The Fry Street Quartet with violists Brant Bayless and Roger Chase. The unofficial world premiere of “White Roses”, written by Christopher Burns for Brant Bayless and Anne Francis Bayless.
3:00 Viola Ensemble Concert. Featuring ensembles from area students as well as the Utah Symphony viola section.
I just want to say a loud and clear THANK YOU to everyone who has responded to our membership drive!
THANK YOU!!! From the bottom of my alto range heart, thank you!
Membership is a Bargain. Yes, a Bargain with Capital B.
Your yearly dues will gain you FREE entrance to Viola Day!!!!2.0 events on November 1, 2014. That’s FREE masterclass with Roger Chase, FREE admittance to a discussion about instrument making, FREE admittance to a very interesting Lecture/Performance by Leslie Richards (more to come about that event!), FREE admittance to a recital of The Fry Street Quartet featuring special guest artists Roger Chase and Utah Symphony Principal Violist Brant Bayless. And FREE admittance to our signature Viola Ensembles recital featuring students David Dalton, students from Weber State and Utah State University, and viola section members of the Utah Symphony.
OK, so that sounds amazing. BUT WE’RE NOT DONE YET!
Your Utah Viola Society Membership will also gain you FREE admittance to Roger Chase’s Recital on November 2. (Be still my heart!) This recital is part of Roger Chase’s The Tertis Project which is an ongoing endeavor devoted to performing and recording works by important U.K. composers of the last century which were written for the legendary violist Lionel Tertis. He will be performing works by Sir Arthur Bliss, Sir Arnold Bax, Benjamin Dale, and York Bowen. Mr. Chase performs on Lionel Tertis’s Monatagnana viola, so you will also have the chance to see and hear this amazing viola. (FREE!!!)
If you join in advance of Viola Day!!!!2.0 you will have ease of entry into all of these Utah Viola Society events. Let’s do the math: Viola Day!!!2.0 entrance fee is $10. The Roger Chase Tertis Project Recital admission is $15. If you are a student and join at the UVS student rate of $10/year you have saved $5.
We can’t be a healthy and vibrant viola society without members. Without members urging us forward we can’t challenge ourselves to bring you the kinds of Viola Days and Viola Weekends that all of us want to be part of. Thank you so very much to those of you who have joined the Utah Viola Society.
You can pay dues online or send a check. We’re not picky. You don’t even have to be a violist to join, if you love the viola or even love a violist that is reason enough!
Just a taste:
And here’s your first taste. Hey everyone, this is Roger Chase. Roger Chase, meet everyone!
The fabulous violist Roger Chase will be joining us for Viola Day 2014. The first event features him in recital with the Fry Street Quartet on October 31 in Logan. On Saturday he will be presenting a masterclass for the Utah Viola Society on November 1, and on Sunday evening November 2 will play a recital of English Music entitled The Tertis Project with pianist Michiko Otaki.
Among other works he will be performing the Sir Arthur Bliss sonata, an overlooked gem in the viola repertoire. More details to come, but in the meantime give this a listen, and then join us for Viola Weekend 2014!