Ralph Fielding
(2002-2005)
Ralph Fielding served as Distinguished Artist-in-Residence, Viola, at the Lynn University Conservatory of Music until 2022 and previously was on the faculty of the University of Southern California.
He was active as a clinician at music programs across the country and presented master classes at institutions such as Oberlin College, the Cleveland Institute of Music, Indiana University, the Eastman School of Music, the New England Conservatory, the University of Michigan, the San Francisco Conservatory, and Rice University, as well as having given nearly 200 lessons over the years to New World Symphony viola fellows. Mr. Fielding served as an adjudicator for ASTA, MTNA, Suzuki, and other competitions, and was the Chair of the Jury for the 8th Primrose International Viola Competition.
Before his teaching career, Fielding had an extensive history as an orchestral musician. As a teenager, he played for a year in the Utah Symphony under Maurice Abravanel. He later spent 16 years as a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, including a term as Chair of their Auditions Committee. His former orchestral repertoire students continue to secure positions in ICSOM and regional orchestras.
In addition to his classical work, Mr. Fielding played in the string section for dozens of Hollywood film scores (such as Ghost, Armageddon, Contact, My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Parent Trap), sound recordings (for such diverse artists as The Counting Crows, the Wallflowers, Alanis Morissette, Wayne Shorter and Willie Nelson), and TV shows (including Futurama, Jag, and Star Trek DS9, TNG & Voyager) and was in the pit orchestra for Johnny Carson’s last appearance as host of the Tonight Show.
Ralph Fielding held a three-year term as the elected President of the American Viola Society, a 1,000-member nonprofit organization, founded in 1971, that puts out a peer-reviewed Journal and sponsors the Primrose International Viola Competition, one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious viola-only events.
Mr. Fielding holds a B.A., M.M. and M.B.A. from Yale University.