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

2024 Primrose International Viola Competition & American Viola Society Festival Schedule of Events — WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2024

1:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Primrose International Viola Competition Semi-Final Round Continued Zipper Hall

1:00 pm -2:00 pm

Lecture-Recital Mayman Hall A Compositional Trinity: Three Caprices Evoking Heritage, Faith, and Urban Culture. Aiveen Gallagher – The “Trinity Caprices” demonstrate virtuosity and technical brilliance whilst embodying elements of artistic identity. Caprice No.1, Aisling (a Vision), evokes aspects of Ireland’s cultural music. Caprice No.2, Vocate ad Mariam (Call to Mary) is inspired by sacred music aesthetics. Caprice No.3, Urbana, has a distinct influence from 1980’s minimalism weaved into the fabric of multicultural popular and global genres. They explore different sound worlds through experimentation with timbre, textures, extended techniques, and electronics.

Aiveen Gallagher

Trinity Caprices

I. Aisling

(b.1986)

II. Vocate Ad Mariam III. Urbana

2:15 pm – 3:15 pm

Lecture Olive 272 Inspiring Curiosity, Self-Discovery, and Connection in the Viola Studio Setting Molly Wilkens-Reed – Teachers have many hopes for their students when it comes to studying the viola. Curiosity in the learning process, self-discovery, and connection with community are all things we hope to help students find while they pursue viola study. This session will focus on using creative projects to inspire curiosity and self-discovery in the areas of research and scholarship, new music, music of underrepresented composers, practice habits, string pedagogy, and much more!

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Lecture Olive 270 What Technology (including Virtual Reality) Can Teach Us About the Bow Arm Katherine Lewis – String players have long been fascinated by how sound and articulation are produced in their bow arms and the visual patterns they produce. Beautiful images from Jascha Heifetz and photographer Gjon Mili’s 1950’s collaboration involving lights attached to Heifetz’s bow are testaments to the complexity of the bow arm, but hard to use as a pedagogical or research tool. This lecture will demonstrate how VR and other electronic tracking options can allow us new insights into the inner workings of the bow arm to use as a performance and pedagogical tool.

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Lecture Olive 272

On Shubho Lhaw Qolo: The Confluence of Maqam and Western Compositional Techniques Sami Seif – Join Sami Seif as he dissects his viola concerto, Shubho Lhaw Qolo, in a three-part lecture: 'Exploration of Pitch and Maqam,' 'Multidirectional Form and Tonal Shifts,' and 'Memory, Anticipation, and Musical Time.' Delve into the unique blend of Maqam scales and Western techniques, the multidirectional form, and the psychological aspects of musical time. This lecture unravels a new perspective on the fusion of cross-cultural musical elements, suggesting new directions for engaging with viola repertoire.

20