Freya Downey is a violist, improviser, composer, and sound artist based in Boston, MA. She is dedicated to building community through music and providing mindful, creative, and accessible concert experiences. As a soloist and avid chamber musician, she collaborates with MAYFIRE as F.M. Duo. Her most recent project as both a soloist and composer is “A Whole Heartload,” an improvisation and Deep Listening-based viola concerto. She developed “Project Pause: 4 Recitals, 8 months,” to create mindful and accessible concerts for her home community in Norman, OK, where she appeared as a soloist, chamber musician, composer, and collaborator. She has managed a private studio for ten years, taught at Boston University, with Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, and served as assistant faculty at Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute. Freya earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Viola Performance from Boston University and holds degrees from Baylor University and the University of Oklahoma. Her mentors include Michelle LaCourse, Kathryn Steely, Sarah Plum, and Mark Neumann. In her free time, Freya enjoys painting and spending time with her dog.