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JAVS Online Summer 2008 - XXXVI International Viola Congress
Reflections: Photos from the XXXVI International Viola Congress in Tempe, Arizona
by Dwight Pounds
Kim Kashkashian enters a mental state of extreme concentration to the exclusion of other surroundings before beginning the music at hand. Pianist Lydia Artymiw listens both with eyes and ears for every breath, nuance, and movement, no matter how subtle.
Matthew Jones adjusts Laura McDermott’s position to maximize her comfort and playing efficiency. One of two presenters on health, wellness and physical recovery from injury, he learned these skills in the process of recovering from near career-ending injury.
The collection in this photo seems to suggest a combination latte or cappuccino and a box of violas, on special, while they last. As usual, our exhibitors did a marvelous job with their wares—what would our congresses be without them?
Nancy Buck chose her student staff well. Here we see the faces of the congress fireman/women who seemed to be everywhere during the congress and dousing bushfires as quickly as they occurred: host Nancy Buck, Allyson Wuenschel, Tessa Gotman, Alex Vittal, and Louis Privitera. Regarding Louis, see Montreal Congress Review
The Arizona State University School of Music, Tempe, Arizona, host to International Viola Congress XXXVI. Original architectural designs by Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation with this portion of the school by DWL/The Mathes Group.
Louise Lansdown, native of South Africa and currently President of the newly-formed English Viola Society, one of the IVS’s newest member societies. She owns the restored viola which belonged to Cecil Aronowitz which was almost destroyed when he suffered a fatal stroke while playing it. Her subject at last year’s viola congress was Aronowitz--Hindemith's Op. 11, No. 4 was this year's topic.
Frank Lloyd Wright, amateur viola player turned architect, who designed the A.S.U. Gammage Auditorium and Taliesin West, his home in nearby Scottsdale.
Brett Banducci, violist, composer, Director or Composer Outreach and member of Southern California Viola Choir. Learn more about Brett Banducci and his amazing career on his website, www.brettbanducci.org.
Although true of everyone, it is truer when spoken of Alan deVeritch, fourth AVS President: there is only one Alan deVeritch! He is bigger than life in size, in capability, in knowledge and experience, in taste in shirts, and in friendship. We who know him are blessed to call him our friend.
Claudine Bigelow, Chair of the 2008 PMSC Jury, shares a moment with featured soloist, Paul Neubauer, aka the “East Coast Paul,” following his world premier performance of Joan Tower's "Purple Rhapsody."
Paul Coletti, the “West Coast Paul” for those tracking similar names, escorts his wife, Gina, and daughter Olivia to the congress banquet. More than one person commented to Paul and Gina that, given the quality of Olivia’s voice, that she would be a singer rather than string musician.
Jerzy Kosmala, emeritus Professor of Viola at Louisiana State University, in a master class. Although quiet and reserved in his private life, Jerzy teaches with intensity and leaves little doubt with students or audiences alike that his is a formidable musical mind.
Thomas Tatton, “Dr. Tom” to his students, fifth AVS President and multiple-viola music guru to the remainder of us, shares playing and conducting duties for the traditional congress play-in. The AVS as we currently know it took shape during his leadership (1994-1998). See "An Interview with Tom Tatton in JAVS Online, Summer 2005
Question: Looking at this black-and-white photograph, what would you suppose Donald McInnes was doing? If you surmised that he probably was teaching a master class at a viola congress someplace, you would be absolutely correct. The above image was taken in June 1991 at International Viola Congress XIX at Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York and is part of the collection in the PIVA gallery in Provo, Utah.
When this image of Donald McInnes in his Tempe master class appeared in my camera, it was “déjà vu” all over again. Once more he was doing what he was born to do right in front of my lens--recreating the 1991 photograph, at least in mood and composition, was a no-brainer. Having spent much of his career on stage, McInnes is as much in his element in a setting where he can coach, cajole, and encourage talented students before an audience as when performing with a professional orchestra. He has conducted dozens of master classes at viola congresses for probably well over a hundred students.
Molly Carr, Emily Deans, and Dimitri Murrath--third, second, and first place finishers in the 2008 Primrose Memorial Scholarship Competition who each thrilled us with their technique and musicality, both during the competition and the Primrose Winners' Recital. |
