American Viola Society
Encyclopedia
The American Viola Society is an organization headquartered in Dallas, Texas
that promotes interest in the viola
by its performers, teachers, luthier
s, and enthusiasts.
The American Viola Society offers a variety of services to its members and violist
s worldwide including a viola bank offering loans of instruments, the Maurice Gardner Viola Composition Competition, a National Teacher Directory, and publications, including The Journal of the American Viola Society and free sheet music downloads. The American Viola Society also sponsors and funds the Primrose International Viola Competition
, one of the world's premier competitions for violists, and frequently hosts International Viola Congresses.
(IVS). The organization changed its name in 1978 to the American Viola Society to better reflect the interests of its members. In 1979, David Dalton founded the Primrose International Viola Competition
in honor of the great Scottish-American violist William Primrose
. That same year, the American Viola Society co-commissioned George Rochberg
's Viola Sonata in celebration of Primrose's seventy-fifth birthday.
In 1985, the AVS began publishing the Journal of the American Viola Society (JAVS), an outgrowth of the AVS Newsletter that it had previously produced. The JAVS has been a leading source of viola research; notably publishing several articles on the genesis and revision of Béla Bartók
's Viola Concerto. Upon retirement of David Dalton as longtime editor in 1999, JAVS established the David Dalton Viola Research Competition for student members of the society.
To further the organization's mission of encouraging performance and developing the fraternal bond among violists, the AVS initiated local chapters during the 1990s. More than two dozen state and regional chapters have formed, many of which have established their own viola choirs and viola festivals that offer educational opportunities to area violists.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
that promotes interest in the viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
by its performers, teachers, luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
s, and enthusiasts.
The American Viola Society offers a variety of services to its members and violist
Violist
-Notable violists:A* Julia Rebekka Adler * Sir Hugh Allen , conductor* Kris Allen * Johann Andreas Amon * Paul Angerer , composer* Steven Ansell * Atar Arad * Cecil Aronowitz...
s worldwide including a viola bank offering loans of instruments, the Maurice Gardner Viola Composition Competition, a National Teacher Directory, and publications, including The Journal of the American Viola Society and free sheet music downloads. The American Viola Society also sponsors and funds the Primrose International Viola Competition
Primrose International Viola Competition
The Primrose International Viola Competition , also referred to as the Primrose Memorial Scholarship Competition , is an international music competition for viola players sponsored by the American Viola Society and named for the 20th century virtuoso William Primrose.The 13th Primrose International...
, one of the world's premier competitions for violists, and frequently hosts International Viola Congresses.
History
In 1971, Myron Rosenblum founded the American Viola Research Society, a subset of the Viola-Forschungsgellschaft, now the International Viola SocietyInternational Viola Society
The International Viola Society, also called the "IVS" or "the Society," is an international organization dedicated to players of the viola. It is currently based in Auckland, New Zealand and sponsors annual International Viola Congresses...
(IVS). The organization changed its name in 1978 to the American Viola Society to better reflect the interests of its members. In 1979, David Dalton founded the Primrose International Viola Competition
Primrose International Viola Competition
The Primrose International Viola Competition , also referred to as the Primrose Memorial Scholarship Competition , is an international music competition for viola players sponsored by the American Viola Society and named for the 20th century virtuoso William Primrose.The 13th Primrose International...
in honor of the great Scottish-American violist William Primrose
William Primrose
William Primrose CBE was a Scottish violist and teacher.-Biography:Primrose was born in Glasgow and studied violin initially. In 1919 he moved to study at the then Guildhall School of Music in London. On the urging of the accompanist Ivor Newton, Primrose moved to Belgium to study under Eugène...
. That same year, the American Viola Society co-commissioned George Rochberg
George Rochberg
George Rochberg was an American composer of contemporary classical music.-Life:Rochberg was born in Paterson, New Jersey. He attended the Mannes College of Music, where his teachers included George Szell and Hans Weisse, and the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Rosario Scalero and...
's Viola Sonata in celebration of Primrose's seventy-fifth birthday.
In 1985, the AVS began publishing the Journal of the American Viola Society (JAVS), an outgrowth of the AVS Newsletter that it had previously produced. The JAVS has been a leading source of viola research; notably publishing several articles on the genesis and revision of Béla Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
's Viola Concerto. Upon retirement of David Dalton as longtime editor in 1999, JAVS established the David Dalton Viola Research Competition for student members of the society.
To further the organization's mission of encouraging performance and developing the fraternal bond among violists, the AVS initiated local chapters during the 1990s. More than two dozen state and regional chapters have formed, many of which have established their own viola choirs and viola festivals that offer educational opportunities to area violists.
Maurice Gardner Composition Competition
The AVS inaugurated the biennial Maurice Gardner Composition Competition in 2009. The first winner was Rachel Matthews, whose work Dreams for Viola and Piano was premiered at the 2010 International Viola Congress.Organization
Presidents of the AVS- Myron Rosenblum, Founder (1971–1981)
- Maurice Riley (1981–1986)
- David Dalton (1986–1990)
- Alan de VeritchAlan de VeritchAlan de Veritch is an American violist who has made a name for himself as a soloist, pedagogue, recording artist, and orchestral musician....
(1990–1994) - Thomas Tatton (1994–1998)
- Peter SlowikPeter SlowikPeter Slowik is a professor of viola and head of the string department at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he has earned the school's teaching award...
(1998–2002) - Ralph Fielding (2002–2005)
- Helen CallusHelen CallusHelen Callus is a British violist who currently teaches at the University of California, Santa Barbara.Callus studied with Ian Jewel at the Royal Academy of Music in London, earning an Honorary ARAM . She then continued her studies at the Peabody Conservatory, where she served as the teaching...
(2005–2008) - Juliet White-Smith (2008–2011)
- Nokuthula NgwenyamaNokuthula NgwenyamaNokuthula Ngwenyama is an American solo violist of Zimbabwean and Japanese descent. She is a recording artist under EDI Records, and has taught at the Jacob's School of Music at Indiana University.- Background :...
(2011–2014)