UtahViolaSociety

And the countdown begins!
Two weeks from today the Utah Viola Society will hold its Viola Day!!! 2015. Our special guest this year is James Dunham, former violist of the Cleveland String Quartet and current Viola Professor at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.

Please consider renewing your membership today! Your membership allows us to continue to put on our fabulous recitals, classes, and day-long viola events. Plus, as always, alto clef cookies! Need I say more???

In the meantime, in preparation for Viola Day, here’s an interview with James Dunham, courtesy of the American Viola Society!

Viola Day!!! 2015 is October 24, 2015! We have a full day of viola events planned for you, including a masterclass with Rice University Shepherd School of Music’s Professor of Viola, world renown chamber musician and soloist, James Dunham.

We will feature exhibits by local luthiers, instrument exhibitions, a viola ensemble recital featuring student ensembles and the Utah Symphony Viola Section, and finally an epic read-through of Michael Kimber’s Violapalooza. And did I forget to mention….alto clef cookies?!? (Please bring extra, Brad!!!)

Renew your membership today, or join today if you’re a first time member!  Regular Membership is $20, and Student Membership is $10. Your membership supports us throughout the year and enables us to continue to put on great viola events such as Viola Day!!!

Viola Day!!! 2015 will be October 24 at the University of Utah’s School of Music, David Gardner Hall, 1375 E. President’s Circle.

Registration will begin at 9am.

Join today, and we look forward to seeing you at Viola Day!!! 2015!

As many of you know, The Utah Symphony family recently lost a member. Our Director of Orchestra Personnel, Eric Johnson, passed away on August 23, 2015.  Eric was not only our Personnel Manager, but he was also a violist, and earned his Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance from the University of Michigan. Though he wasn’t really playing viola very much anymore, I tried to get him to attend Utah Viola Society events. Every year I would jokingly tell him that I was going to sign him up for a membership against his will, but I never could quite get him to attend a Viola Day. I feel certain that if I just had ONE MORE YEAR I could convince him to join and come to an event.

In Eric’s memory I would like to sponsor a one year membership to a reluctant violist. If you know someone that you are sure would enjoy a Utah Viola Society event, but you just can’t quite get them to come, contact me and tell me about them. I will pick the most reluctant violist by October 15 and award them the Eric Johnson Memorial Membership.

Eric’s obituary.

Friday, June 6, at noon, Fry Street Quartet Violist Brad Ottesen and Rebecca McFaul will present a joint recital as part of the Logan Tabernacle Concert and Lecture Series.

Brad will be performing the G Major Gamba Sonata by J.S. Bach, together the two quartet members will perform the first Madrigal for Violin and Viola by Bohuslav Martinu, and Becky will play the Ludwig van Beethoven Sonata #5 for Violin and Piano, “Spring.” If you are in Cache Valley this Friday, don’t miss this opportunity to hear this fantastic recital!

There is something for everyone at tomorrow’s Utah Viola Society Recital. If you love chamber music, we’ve got you covered. If you love viola sonatas, we’ve got you covered. If you love concert pieces, we’ve got one! We’ve got contemporary music, and we’ve even got a jazz trio!

We have Utah Symphony Principal Violist Brant Bayless performing selections from Mozart’s Divertimento in E-flat Major with his wife, Fry Street Quartet cellist Anne Francis Bayless, and Utah Symphony’s Associate Concertmaster Kathryn Eberle.

Megan Mason will be performing a work by composer David Shiff entitled Joycesketche II. The sketch was part of a series written to prepare for writing an opera based on the life and writings of James Joyce.

Paula Cho will be performing Enesco’s Concertpiece.

Utah Viola Society President and Fry Street Quartet violist Brad Ottesen will be performing Rebecca Clarke’s passionate and impetuous viola sonata with pianist Jessica Roderer.

And I will have the pleasure of being joined by my two amazing Utah Symphony colleagues Yuki MacQueen on violin, and bassist Ted Merritt for a trio by Frank Proto.

And now…off to practice! But join us tomorrow for this wonderful recital offering. Bring all your friends and celebrate all things viola with us.

February 22, 3pm in Dumke Recital Hall at the University of Utah. Admission is FREE!!!

Utah Viola Society presents a VIOLA RECITAL! Join us on Sunday February 22 at 3pm for a Viola Recital in Dumke Hall!

We have assembled an amazing program featuring solo works, sonatas, new music, and chamber music featuring the viola!

Gifted Music School

Saturday morning, MASTERCLASS!
Saturday afternoon, RECITAL!!!

Both of these events are free, but you do need tickets, so reserve yours today!!