Viola Viola VIOLA!!!

VlaTrio (1 of 2)

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!

Viola Day!!!!2.0 schedule of events is here!

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.

 

Join us….you know you want to!

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:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYXi_eJOdq8

 

 

The countdown begins!

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!

Viola Day is Viola week!!!!

Dear Violists, I hope everyone has had a good summer! Viola Week is within sight – October 31 to November 2. Last year rocked, and we hope to see everyone again…plus lots of new friends. We need the help of every one of you to make this a success. A strong local viola society will need to be a true grassroots effort. What can you do?

1) Word of mouth is a powerful thing. We’re counting on you all – let’s get the word out and make this a fantastic event! Make sure these dates are in your calendar. Bring a friend, encourage your students to attend, talk to your teacher.

2) Forward this email – we’re building a mailing list, but there are far more violists out there than we can ever include. if you’re a teacher, make sure this gets to all your students! We don’t want anyone to miss out.

3) I am attaching a PDF file of our Viola Day poster – please print this out and post it in your place of work or study. (It looks best in color, it’s purple of course! ) If you would like copies sent to you, email me directly and I will put them in the mail.

We will soon be starting a membership drive, we want as many people as possible signed up for the UVS by October 1. All UVS events, Viola Week and beyond, are included in your membership fee. We have the capability to register online, I will follow this email soon with more details about exactly how to do this. Look below for a rundown of events, with more details to come!

As always, you can look to our Facebook page and our website for the most current information: www.utahviolasociety.org Looking forward, Brad Bradley Ottesen President, Utah Viola Society Violist, Fry Street Quartet Faculty, Caine College of the Arts Utah State University brad.ottesen(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com (435) 881-5582

Friday, Oct. 31, 7:30 PM – The Virtuoso Viola – Concert at Utah State University featuring Violist Roger Chase and the Fry Street Quartet with a mixed program of solo viola and chamber music. The program will include Kodaly’s transcription of Bach’s Fantasia Chromatica, Rolla duo for violin and viola, Paganini’s Sonata per la Gran Viola, and the Mozart Quintet in C Major.

Saturday, Nov. 1, 9am to 5 PM – Viola Day!!!! at the University of Utah, a full day’s worth of events including a masterclass with Mr. Chase, an exhibition of local luthiers, a lecture/performance by Leslie Richards, the premier of a new viola quintet featuring Brant Bayless with the Fry Street Quartet, and a concert of Viola Ensembles.

Sunday, Nov. 2, 7:00 PM – The Tertis Project – Roger Chase, viola with Michiko Otaki, piano. Recital in Libby Gardner Hall, University of Utah. The program will feature British music for the viola, including York Bowen’s Melodies on the C and G string, Dale Romnace, Bliss Sonata, and the Bax Concertpiece. This will be a rare opportunity to hear one of the world’s great instruments. Mr. Chase plays the Montagnana viola once owned by Lionel Tertis and immortalized in his recordings. The Tertis Project presents music commissioned and programmed by Tertis, with whom Mr. Chase had the opportunity to work with as a young man. You can read more here: rogerchase.com

It’s official! Viola Day 2.0 is actually a Viola Weekend with Roger Chase!

Dear Violists,

I hope everyone is having a good summer!  We are well into planning Viola Day!!!! 2.0, and we are pleased to announce that renowned British violist Roger Chase will be joining us as our guest artist, offering a masterclass and presenting several performances during his visit. Please mark your calendar for Viola Day!!!! 2.0, and include the entire weekend of November 1.  Here is a preliminary outline of events:

Friday, Oct. 31, 7:30 PM – Concert at Utah State University featuring Mr. Chase and the Fry Street Quartet with a mixed program of solo viola and chamber music.

Saturday, Nov. 1, 9am to 5 PM – Viola Day!!!! 2.0 at the University of Utah, featuring a masterclass by Mr. Chase, a viola ensemble concert, and a full day’s worth of events to be announced.

Sunday, Nov. 2, 7:00 PM – Roger Chase, viola with Michiko Otaki, piano.  Recital in Libby Gardner Hall, University of Utah.

This will be a rare opportunity to hear one of the world’s great instruments.  Mr. Chase plays the Montagnana viola once owned by Lionel Tertis and immortalized in his recordings.  Sunday’s full length recital will present “The Tertis Project”, in which Mr. Chase performs music commissioned and programmed by Tertis, with whom he had the opportunity to work with as a young man.  You can read more here:  http://www.rogerchase.com

Please hold these dates, and share them with your friends and colleagues – more details to come!

In other news, congratulations to Claudine Bigelow and Julie Edwards for presenting at the 2014 Primrose Festival in Los Angeles, to David Dalton for receiving the Gold Alto Clef Award from the International Viola Society for the importance of his continuing contributions, and to Michael Palumbo for becoming the new President-Elect of the American Viola Society.  We are incredibly lucky here in Utah to be home to such a strong community of violists.

All the best,

Brad

Bradley Ottesen

President, Utah Viola Society

Read all about Roger Chase here.

Roger CHase

 

 

On a personal note, I love all things English Viola, so much so that I teased a friend about wanting to change my name to Winifred Copperwheat (I mean, have you ever heard such an English name, and for a violist no less?!?), so I am really exited about this opportunity to hear Mr. Chase and his legendary viola in real life.

Winifred copperwheat