UtahViolaSociety

Meet Megan Mason, Violist, AND Composer!

On Sunday, March 6, as part of the Utah Viola Society’s Spring Viola Recital, Megan will be performing her original Sonata for Solo Viola entitled “Delayed.”

In Megan’s words:

The solo viola sonata is called “Delayed,” and I’ll be playing the 3rd movement (Fog) and 4th movement (Following Carlow).

The suite is about some of the craziest airport delays/cancellations/layovers I’ve had in my touring career (something I think everyone can relate  to!) I first wrote the fourth movement while lying across Dublin airport chairs, trying to rearrange travel in three languages and get the Irish folk tune “Follow Me Down to Carlow” out of my head. I gave up trying to sleep and instead wrote a character piece, which I’ve recently been expanding into a full suite.

The two movements are quite contrasting. “Fog” has some Hindemith-like elements and describes the very haunting experience of being fogged in at the Baltimore Airport for 24 hours, the day after the horrific Newtown shootings. “Following Carlow” is, by contrast, upbeat and tonal, with a hint of obsession and some ridiculous airport noises thrown in for good measure.

While I have performed “Following Carlow” a few times, “Fog” is brand new, and this will be its premier.

Come hear Megan’s new piece at the Utah Viola Society Recital on Sunday, March 6, 3pm at Dumke Recital Hall, University of Utah!

 

Featuring works by Martinu, Bach, Mason, Tower, Pintscher, Schumann, Wreede.

Performed by Bigelow, Ottesen, Mason, Beilman, Bayless, Johansen, Zalkind and Edwards.

Roberto Diaz is coming to Utah for a week-long residency with the Gifted Music School!  There will be a masterclass and recital open to the public. Roberto Diaz will present a viola masterclass as well as a chamber music masterclass. The recital will feature Roberto Diaz performing the Telemann Viola Concerto and Schubert’s Trout Quintet with students from the Gifted School. Learn more at the Gifted Music School website!

Masterclass: Thursday, February 11, 2016, at the Gifted Music School facility (150 S. 1000 E., Salt Lake City, UT)

• Viola Masterclass 1:30-3:30; Performers include Madison Marshall, Andrew Oliverson, Mackie Moore, and Bianca Quigley.
• Chamber Music Masterclass 4:00-5:30

Recital: Saturday, February 13, 2016, 5:30 pm, at All Saints Episcopal Church (1710 S. Foothill Dr., Salt Lake City, UT

It’s time again for the Primrose Memorial Concert! This year’s concert honoring the memory of William Primrose will feature violist Sheila Browne in a masterclass and recital. The masterclass will be Thursday, January 21, in room E-400, Harris Fine Arts Center at BYU from 5-7 pm. The recital is on Friday, January 22, 7:30pm at the Madsen Recital Hall, Fine Arts Center, BYU. Both of these events are free and open to the public!

Sheila Browne will be presenting works by de Falla, Rochberg, Prokofiev, and Jongen. Her collaborative artist is BYU Professor Dr. Jeffrey Shumway.

Shelia Browne is currently on the faculty of North Carolina School of the Arts, and enjoys a varied international career of solo engagements, chamber music, and teaching.

Master Class, Thursday, January 21, E-400, Harris Fine Arts Center., BYU, 5-7 pm, free admission

Primrose Memorial Concert, Friday, January 22, Madsen Recital Hall, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU, 7:30 pm, free admission

 

Thank You to everyone who helped to make Utah Viola Society’s Viola Day a success! Thank you to each and every one of you who attended Viola Day as a violist, a student, a performer, a parent, or just a fan of the viola! Thank you to our sponsors, Season Sponsor Scoggins & Scoggins Violin Shop and Event Sponsor Summerhays Music! Additional thanks to Adam Day Violins, Dan Salini, and Lawrence Furse for bringing their instruments, thanks to Brant Bayless for showing us how great those violas can sound! Thank you to all the students who performed beautifully in the masterclass for James Dunham, you’re all making Utah look good! Thank you to all the groups who performed in the Ensemble recital, you all rocked! Thank you to everyone who participated in Violapalooza, and thanks to Dr. Robert Baldwin for leading us in such a fantastic performance! Thank you to the University of Utah for the most perfect place to have Viola Day, and thanks to Utah State University for their ongoing Viola Day support!!!

 

 

Check out the Utah Viola Society’s YouTube debut!

That was so much fun! Thanks to everyone who participated!!!

Michael Kimber’s Violapalooza and many of his other scores for viola solo or viola ensemble can be found on his website.