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

2024 American Viola Society Festival Artists

Becky May Becky May began playing the viola in 1975 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the same year and location of the first International Viola Congress! Her neighbor was her first teacher. As a member of New World Symphony, she performed at the Bastille Opera House (Paris), Teatro Colon (Argentina), Carnegie Hall (NY) and Symphony Center (Chicago). Becky has a bachelor’s degree (Cincinnati) and Master’s Degree (Michigan) in Viola Performance as well as a second Master’s Degree in Library Science. Her recent project, researching 18th century women composers and transcribing their music for solo viola, combines elements from both her master’s degrees. Christina McGann Christina McGann is faculty at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University and Concertmaster of the Nashville Opera Orchestra. McGann was awarded prizes from the Johansen International Competition, National Symphony Orchestra Young Soloist Competition, the Lennox Competition, Ackerman Chamber Music Competition, Chamber Music Yellow Spring, and the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. McGann holds both BM and MM from The Juilliard School where she was accepted with Presidential Distinction, and received her doctorate from SUNY Stony Brook where she received the Julie Michael Violist Julie Michael strives to bring the same spirit of sincerity to the performance of music of all eras, for all audiences. A passionate interpreter of new music, Julie has collaborated with many composers to commission and premiere new solo viola and chamber works. Julie has performed throughout Europe and North America as former violist of the Tana Quartet and Amaranth Quartet, and through guest appearances with ensembles including Alarm Will Sound and Ensemble Intercontemporain. Currently based in Brussels, Julie holds degrees from McGill University and the University of Michigan and is Alex Molina Shawver Alex Molina Shawver is a composer and educator based in Austin, Texas. Native to North Texas, he is a proud Tejano and band kid at heart. Influences on his compositional style include Popular music, Impressionism, and the American Minimalist and post-Minimalist movements. Inspiration for his work often comes from natural landscapes and current events. Recently he gave a solo recital at the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas to inaugurate their new multi-form performance space. Alex holds degrees in Piano Pedagogy, Theory Pedagogy, and Composition, and is currently pursuing a DMA in

Samuel Baron Prize. McGann was the violist of the Blair String Quartet from 20-23.

pursuing doctoral studies at KU Leuven (Belgium).

Composition from the University of Texas at Austin.

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