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

2024 American Viola Society Festival Artists

Misha Galaganov Dr. Misha Galaganov, Professor of Viola at TCU, is a well-known performer and educator. He has brought to light many unknown and forgotten works for viola, and he premiered music written for him by many important composers, including Eric Ewazen, Elena Sokolovski, Richard Lavenda, and others. In addition to his teaching, performing, and coordinating duties, Galaganov is a researcher, arranger, and presenter, who is engaged in summarizing his pedagogical ideas in articles, videos, and books. Many of his former students have successful solo, teaching, and orchestra careers in the US, Asia, Europe, and Latin Aiveen Gallagher is a violist, violinist, and composer from Ireland. She has performed extensively in Europe, the UK, and the USA. She is a multiple international prize winner as a soloist and chamber musician and has been the recipient of awards from violinist Ivry Gitlis and violist Bruno Giuranna. Gallagher has delivered masterclasses and workshops at institutions such as NYU Steinhardt School of Music, the University of Illinois, and the University of Central Florida, and has served as a string adjudicator for the European String Teachers Association. Dr. Gallagher joined the string faculty of James Madison Molly Gebrian Dr. Molly Gebrian is a professional violist and scholar with a background in cognitive neuroscience. Her area of expertise is applying the research on learning and memory to practicing and performing music. She also investigates the intersections between music and language. As a performer, she prioritizes the works of living composers and those who have traditionally been excluded from the culture of classical music. She holds degrees in both music and neuroscience from Oberlin College and Conservatory, New England Conservatory of Music, and Rice University. Anna Griffis Anna Griffis made her concerto debut with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at 16 and has performed across Mexico, Europe, and Taiwan on modern and period instruments. Principal viola of New Bedford Symphony, member of Albany Symphony, Anna also performs with Portland Symphony, Emmanuel Music, Blue Heron, BEMF, Odyssey Opera, and Boston Lyric Opera. Anna co-founded Trio Speranza and is executive director and violist of Ludovico Ensemble. She teaches at Tufts University, is an affiliate artist at MIT, and works as a graphic designer. Anna is the proud product of her Maryland public school Aiveen Gallagher Duo Schembri-Gallagher

America.

University in 2022.

music program, Lawrence University, and Boston University.

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