AVS Recordings

The American Viola Society is committed to supporting recordings of viola music.  To make a donation to help support AVS recording projects, please click HERE.

AVS Presents Recording Label

In 2021, the American Viola Society announced the creation of a recording label to serve as a vehicle for AVS members to present and produce professional recordings sponsored by the AVS. Since that announcement, the AVS has released a full-length recording every year showcasing AVS members and promoting new and lesser-known works for viola.

AVS Presents 2028: Application now open

For its 6th album, the AVS seeks professionally-recorded submissions of works for viola, including solo or with one other instrument. There is no theme for this year. Works by composers from all demographics are encouraged to be submitted; the AVS Recording Project Selection Committee will consider demographics for a well-rounded, diverse program. Priority will be given to pieces that have not been recorded, have few existing professional recordings, or have few high-quality recordings. The call is open to complete works as well as individual movements, and the album will be a compilation of selections. Applicants must be active members of the AVS at the time of submission and continue their active membership through the release of the album. Priority will be given to applicants who have not previously appeared on an AVS Presents release. Recorded performances that have previously been released or will be released before the AVS album comes out are not eligible.  APPLY HERE

AVS Presents 2027:

Performers have been selected for the 2027 AVS Recording Project, including Philippe Chao, Joyce Tseng, Haixiang Ge, Hsiaopei Lee, Katrin Meidell, and Lena Vidulich. The theme is “music of the last 100 years” and the composers include Adolphus Cunningham Hailstork, Marc Fanara, Quanquan Yan, Augusta Read Thomas, Lillian Fuchs, and Richard Drehoff Jr. Release date will be announced in 2027.

AVS Presents 2026 : Quest

Quest

Our 2026 Recording Project, “Quest” will be released to streaming platforms in October. The project features works by composers Carlos R. Carrillo Cotto, Inessa Zaretsky, Thomas Adès, and Michael Kimber. Performers include Tonya Burton, Jenny Douglass, Ward Spangler, Brightin Rose Schlumpf, Grace Wahlen, and Donghee Han.  Full track listing is below.

 

 

Track listing:

1. Cotto: Cantata para viola solo: I. Sinfonia – II. Recitativo – III. Aria – IV. Choral – Tonya Burton, viola
Zaretsky: Dervishes for Viola & Percussion – Jenny Douglass, viola; Ward Spangler, percussion
     2. I. Allegretto
     3. II. Allegro Moderato
     4. III. Moderato
     5. IV. Lento
     6. V. Vivace
Ades: Three Berceuses From The Exterminating Angel – Brightin Rose Schlumpf, viola; Grace Wahlen, piano
     7. I
     8. II
     9. III. Berceuse Macabre
10. Kimber: Quest for Viola Solo – Donghee Han, viola

 

AVS Presents 2025: Hypnagogia

Avs Presents 2025 Cover

Our 2025 Recording Project, “Hypnagogia” was released to streaming platforms in September 2025.

The project features works by composers Luis Enrique Casal Rodríguez, Gabriela Lena Frank, Jessie Montgomery, Roque Cordero, and Murray Gross, with performances by violists Luis Enrique Casal Rodríguez, Daniel Doña (of the Arneis Quartet), Michelle LaCourse, Daphne Gerling, Katherine Lewis, and Alicia Marie Valoti. Full track listing is below.

 

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Track listing:
1 – Luis Enrique Casal Rodríguez: Duo for Violin and Viola, I. Vigoroso – Majcherczyk&Casal DUO
2 – Gabriela Lena Frank: Hypnagogia for String Sextet – Arneis Quartet (Daniel Doña, viola; Heather Braun, violin; Rose Drucker, violin; Agnes Kim, cello), Michelle LaCourse, viola; Hyun Ji Kwon, cello
3 – Jessie Montgomery: Peace for Viola and Piano – Daphne Gerling, viola & Tomoko Kashagawi, piano
4 – Roque Cordero: Tres Mensajes Breves, I. Allegro comodo – Katherine Lewis, viola & Daniel Baer, piano
5 – II. Lento
6 – III. Molto allegro
7 – Murray Gross: Dark Forest for solo viola – Alicia Marie Valoti, viola

 

AVS Presents 2024: Flashing Forward, Thinking Back

AVS Flashing Forward, Thinking Back CD Cover Art

Our 2024 Recording Project, “Flashing Forward, Thinking Back” is a double-length CD released in December 2024.  It features performances by violists Ames Asbell, Sheila Browne, Brenton Caldwell, Philippe Chao, Christopher Jenkins, Kevin Nordstrom, Joseph Skerik, Mason Spencer, Jacob Tews, and Meghan Yost, performing work by Sergey Akhunov, Adolphus Hailstork, Charlotte Hampe, Akira Nishimura, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Florence Price, Sami Seif, George Rochberg, Joan Tower, and Christopher Walczak.

 

Spotify
Apple Music
Amazon Music
YouTube

Track Listing – CD1:
1. Christopher Walczak – Flashing Forward Thinking Back, performed by Sonic Apricity (Erik Rohde, violin and Jacob Tews, viola)
2. Sergey Akhunov – Centaurs, performed by Philippe Chao
George Rochberg – Sonata for Viola and Piano, performed by Sheila Browne and Julie Nishimura, piano
3. Allegro moderato
4. Adagio lamentoso
5. Fantasia: Epilogue
6. Akira Nishimura – Whirl Dance, performed by Mason Spencer
7. Florence Price – Adoration, performed by Brenton Caldwell, viola, and Benjamin Loeb, piano

Track Listing – CD2:
Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson – Blue/s Forms, performed by Christopher Jenkins
1. Plain Blue/s
2. Just Blue/s
3. Jettin’ Blue/s
Charlotte Hampe – Sieben Kleine Barock-Tänze, performed by Ames Asbell
4. Entree
5. Allemande
6. Loure
7. Gavotte und Double
8. Air
9. Menuett und Musette
10. Gigue
11. Sami Seif – Syriac Fugato 2 for Two Violas, performed by Joseph Skerik and Brian Isaacs
12. Joan Tower – Wild Purple, performed by Kevin Nordstrom
13. Adolphus Hailstork – Sanctum, Rhapsody, performed by Meghan Yost, viola and Choo Choo Hu, piano

 

AVS Presents 2023: Works by Underrepresented Composers

Screen Shot 2023 09 17 At 1.02.50 Pm

The AVS is proud to release the first recording in our AVS Presents series, with the theme “Works by Underrepresented Composers.”  Violists Jacob Adams, Sheila Browne, Vijay Chalasani, Mary Moran, Fabio Saggin, Tallā Rouge Duo, Rafael Videira, and Alyssa Warcup perform works by composers Jeanne Behrend, Lycia De Biase Bidart, Andrea Clearfield, Reena Esmail, Tigran Mansurian, Jessie Montgomery, Olivier Toni, and Ellen Taafe Zwilich.

AVS members may enjoy the recording by visiting 2023 Recording Project.

 

AVS Premieres

SlapinReleased in 2014, the American Viola Society’s first recording features violist Scott Slapin and pianist Yui Asano in premiere recordings of music from the American Viola Project. Members can access this digital-only recording as part of the AVS’s many new member benefits. The album is also available for purchase from iTunes, Amazon, Google Music Store, and other outlets.

Members – hear the AVS Premieres recording here.