The Northern Virginia String Quartet, Quartet in Residence for the American Viola Society Festival, leads this invitational masterclass featuring selected festival ensembles. Participants will perform and receive expert coaching on...
Though advanced viola repertoire skews toward the 20th and 21st century, beginning and intermediate violists are rarely offered training in contemporary harmonic, rhythmic, and timbral languages. This knowledge gap often...
This lecture recital draws from my doctoral research into the legacy of Maurice Vieux (1878–1951), the Paris conservatory professor who shaped the modern French viola school. While his pedagogical works...
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 attendees are invited...
This session introduces Paul Rolland’s motion-based pedagogy as applied to viola bowing, with a focus on developing freedom, balance, and ease of movement. Rolland’s principles—natural posture, balanced arm motion, and...
Signature Artist Victoria Chiang works with selected festival participants in this special masterclass, offering insight into viola technique, musical interpretation, and expressive artistry. Observers are invited to experience her thoughtful...
What sounds might a visitor to Monticello have heard? Music was often in the air - Thomas Jefferson was a violinist, and nearly every member of his family also played...
This interactive workshop introduces violists to Pauline Oliveros's "Deep Listening" technique and structured improvisation as tools for expanding artistic expression and enhancing practice effectiveness. Participants will engage in hands-on activities...
Maxwell Lowery is a violist and composer who writes programmatic concert music for the viola and small ensembles. His vividly pictorial compositions tell musical stories and are inspired by nature,...
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...
Tze-Ying Wu, Pei-San Chiu, and Chen-Yu Huang are members of the Formosa Trio. Formed in 2012 at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, the Trio’s name, Formosa—meaning “beautiful island”...
French composer Betsy Jolas (b. 1926) has written a body of captivating and beguiling works for the viola. While she once joked that she belonged to the musical movement called...