Everyone in Utah is probably quite familiar with Brad in his role as Fry Street Quartet violist, and from his Utah Viola Society Presidential duties, but maybe there’s something you didn’t know about Brad…

Meet Rose!

Rose is a Desert Tortoise, adopted by Brad and his wife Denise, both of whom are animal lovers and have adopted several cats and a dog named Wolfie. Brad says that Rose “is listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act due to habitat loss. During the warm season she lives in our yard, but right now she is hibernating and should be waking up any time!  I love my tortoise, and I’m sure there is a viola joke here somewhere.”

When Brad and Denise aren’t rescuing beautiful Tortoises they enjoy going for long hikes, and road trips in the west.

This Sunday, come hear Brad perform Bach’s Gamba Sonata #1 with pianist Jessica Roderer. “I love the counterpoint of the Gamba Sonatas.  The writing consists of 3 distinct and equal voices – the right and left hands of the keyboard and the viola, and it is a challenge to hold all 3 voices in your ear at once.  The piece seems to change each time according to shifting sands of your attention, and this keeps it feeling free, almost like improvisation.” ~Brad Ottesen

Sunday, March 6, 3pm, Dumke Recital Hall, University Of Utah.