26 events found.
Events for June 5, 2026
Registration
We are so excited to welcome you to the 2026 American Viola Society Festival! Check in and pick up your festival credentials, materials, and swag bag! Registration is the first...
Wisdom from the Masters
Presenter: Andrea Houde At every stage of growth through our musical lives, it is vital to have a trusted teacher towards which to turn. The valuable insight a teacher gives...
A Rediscovered Voice: Oppel Viola Solo Suite from the WWII
Presenter: Penny Tong This lecture-recital introduces a remarkable rediscovery in the viola repertoire: the Suite for Solo Viola (1940) by German composer Reinhard Oppel (1878–1941). Written in the final year...
Exploring Movement: An Introduction to Body Mapping for Musicians
Presenter: Juliet White-Smith This interactive workshop will be an introduction to Body Mapping, a somatic modality which grew out of the Alexander Technique. Developed by Barbara Conable in the 1990s,...
The Incomplete Rolla Viola Concerti
Presenter: Kenneth Martinson This lecture explores nine little-known viola concertos by Alessandro Rolla that survive in incomplete form, offering a rare glimpse into both the challenges and possibilities of reconstructing...
Peggy Glanville-Hicks’ Concerto Romantico: increasing access to study and performance through the creation of an engraved edition
Presenter; Roselyn Hobbs Bernadette Lo Peggy Glanville-Hicks' Concerto Romantico for Viola and Chamber Orchestra is a powerful gem of viola writing that most violists have never heard. Premiered in 1957...
AVSF Masterclass: Emerging Teaching Artists
Emerging Teaching Artists of the American Viola Society Festival lead this masterclass, working with selected participants and sharing their insights on technique, musical interpretation, and effective practice strategies. This session...
Beyond the Studio: Second-Generation Voices on Karen Tuttle Coordination
Presenter: Daphne Gerling Katherine Lewis Katrin Meidell Karen Tuttle’s Coordination has profoundly influenced generations of violists, emphasizing physical ease, emotional awareness, and expressive authenticity. While many of Tuttle’s direct students...
Bach, Brain, and Bow Mileage: The Pedagogy of Bruno Giuranna
Presenter: Luca Trombetta This lecture explores the influential teaching legacy of renowned violist Bruno Giuranna, whose contributions to viola pedagogy have shaped generations of performers and teachers worldwide. Through a...
Amy Beach’s Violin Sonata Transcribed for the Viola: An Exploration of Her Letters and Synesthesia
Presenter: Angela Rubin Amy Marcy Cheney Beach (1867–1944) stands as a monumental figure in the history of American classical music, renowned for her achievements as the first American woman to...
From Crane Step to Butterfly Palm: Integrating Qigong into Viola Playing by Practicing Heidi Castleman’s ‘Strings with Qigong’
Presenters: Nethanel Pollak Heidi Castleman In this workshop, I will explore the profound benefits of Qigong for viola players, emphasizing physical wellness and enhanced performance. Qigong, an ancient Chinese practice...
AVSF Ensemble Invitational
Selected viola ensembles take the stage in this special recital showcasing collaborative artistry and diverse repertoire. Featuring outstanding groups from the festival community, the Ensemble Invitational celebrates the richness of...
Exhibitor Open Hours
We invite you to explore the exhibitor hall and connect with distinguished luthiers, bow makers, publishers, and vendors from across the viola world. Discover exceptional instruments, browse sheet music and...
Organizing the Bounce
Off-the-string bow strokes—such as spiccato, sautillé, and ricochet—are vital tools for string players, particularly in orchestral and audition settings. Yet mastering these strokes remains an ongoing challenge for both students...
AVS Shared Recital: Growing the Circle
Performers: Orquidea Araniva Lauren Hodges Peijun Xu EMF Faculty Cadejos for solo viola, by Fernando Zúñiga Chanto (Costa Rica) Night Dust for solo viola (World Premiere), Pilar Aguilar (Costa...
Tapping Into Your Roots: A Genealogical Exploration through Viola and Voice
Presenter: Gregory K. Williams Over the past 30+ years, longer than I have been playing the viola, I have been exploring my family tree, absorbing the experiences of my ancestors,...
Teacher in Residence: Open Lessons/Drop In Observation
Teacher: Rose Wollman Observe master teachers in action during these open lessons with festival participants. Students will work one-on-one with Teachers in Residence in a traditional private lesson setting, while...
The Creative Process: A Journey from Performer to Violist-Composer
Presenter: Ames Asbell Violist Ames Asbell shares her journey into composition from the performer’s perspective, informed by a variety of creativity texts and interviews with active violist-composers. This session details...
Effortless Dynamics Workshop
Presenter: Nora Krohn Creating a sense of ease on both ends of the dynamic spectrum is a worthy goal for any violist: while the acoustic limitations of the instrument can...
The IVS Audio Database
Presenter: Sherry Grant The IVS Audio Database, developed by the International Viola Society in collaboration with Music4Viola, is a growing online platform dedicated to rare and lesser-known works for viola...
A Belgian Addition to the Viola Repertoire: Joseph Jongen and his Viola Works
Presenter: Kunjing Dai Thomas Weaver Belgian composer Joseph Jongen (1873–1953), famous for his organ and chamber works, contributed significantly to the viola repertoire, yet lesser-known. Jongen collaborated with Lionel Tertis...
The Invisible String, The Position-less Fingerboard, and Other Nifty Wisdoms from the Old School
Presenter: David Rose The viola can be a punishing instrument. If it weren't so wonderful, most of us would have run away screaming long ago! Many nuggets of wisdom passed...
AVS Shared Recital: Pairings
Performers: Richard Auldon Clark Alissa Rose (soprano) Kevin Nordstrom Stephen Nordstrom James Logan (clarinet) Dominic Dousa Samuel Kelder Danielle Wiebe Burke Three Laments for soprano and viola, by Richard Auldon...
AVSF Masterclass: Signature Artist, Rudolf Haken
Presenter: Rudolf Haken Signature Artist Rudolf Haken leads this masterclass featuring selected festival participants, sharing his innovative approach to viola performance and technique. Drawing on his expertise with both traditional...
Signature Artist Evening Concert: Marina Thibeault — A Walk on the North Side
Performers: Marina Thibeault Janelle Fung Signature Artist Marina Thibeault presents A Walk on the North Side, a thoughtfully curated program exploring reflection, transformation, and the expressive depth of the viola....