2024 Primrose International Viola Competition & American Viola Society Festival Program Book

2024 American Viola Society Festival Competition Jurors

Elitsa Atanasova Elitsa was born in Bulgaria. After finishing her BM degree, she decided to continue her education in the United States. She received a MM and an Artist Diploma in Viola Performance, from the Texas Christian University, in Fort Worth, studying with Dr. Misha Galaganov, and a DMA degree in Viola Performance from the University of Georgia in Athens, studying with prof. Maggie Snyder. After spending nearly ten years studying and freelancing in the US, in 2020 she decided

to return to Bulgaria. Currently Elitsa holds a full - time position in the orchestra of the National Opera and Ballet in Sofia, Bulgaria and enjoys taking part in various other projects like the New Symphony Orchestra and the Sofia Session Orchestr a.

Martha Carapetyan Martha has been playing the viola since age 12. She is a member of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and an avid chamber musician, playing in every conceivable genre and instrumental combination that includes a viola. In addition to her performing career, Martha loves teaching. Her fascination with how the brain works, as well as how the body moves with ease, has led her through many fields of study including the Alexander Technique, the Feldenkrais Method, Body Mapping, Matthew Dane Matthew Dane serves as Principal Violist of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra in Houston and Associate Principal for Arizona MusicFest. Dane has appeared as soloist with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado, ROCO, and the St. Martin’s Chamber Choir among others; his chamber performances have been broadcast on NPR’s Performance Today and BBC’s Channel 3. A committed teacher, Dane has served on the faculties of the

yoga, meditation, and a number of other disciplines.

University of Colorado, Metro State College of Denver, and was tenured at the University of Oklahoma; he now actively maintains a private studio in Boulder. His viola d’amore was finished in December, 2013 by Martin Biller in Chicago. www.daneviola.com

Julie Edwards Julie Edwards has been a member of Utah Symphony in the fall of 2000. Prior to her appointment in Utah, she played in the viola section of The Louisville Orchestra, and free - lanced extensively throughout the Midwest. Julie enjoys a varied musical life in Salt Lake City, ranging from orchestral performances to playing chamber music and teaching, maintaining an active private studio as well as teaching at the University of Utah. She has enjoyed serving on the boards of

the Utah Viola Society and American Viola Society, and currently serves on the American Federation of Musicians Local 104 Board. Born and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota, Julie began her music studies in the public schools, starting the viola in 4th grade. She received b achelor’s and master’s degrees in music performance from Indiana University, where she studied with Csaba Erdelyi and Atar Arad. Julie plays a Hiroshi Iizuka viola that was commissioned by her in 2010.

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