JAVS Fall 2024

I find myself grasping to any and all of the lessons he taught me–the technical ones, the simple ones, the joyful ones, the frustratingly difficult ones, musical or otherwise. Even after his passing, I feel like I continue to uncover the meanings.

“I am a current student at UT Austin for music education. I studied with Professor Myers from the fall of 2021 up until his passing. Getting to work with Professor Myers was life changing for me. From my first lesson with him I had never progressed so far so quickly. He was an incredible teacher and performer, but also a close and dear friend. I was with him when he shared his diagnosis, and I was with him every step of the way. My own father also has stage 4 cancer, and I learned that Professor Myers and my father had the same doctors at the same times! They would run into each other during therapy and chit chat. He told me “we have a very special connection for that” and he wasn’t wrong. Our lessons after that felt very special. He would comfort me in moments of fear or sadness, and I would do the same for him. We would check in with each other many times, which only brought us closer together. I will never forget the impact he had on my teaching, my playing, and my life. We will miss him and his gifts to the viola world.”

Prioritize musicianship in problem-solving. Be teachable. Above all, be curious and self-discover.

I will miss him deeply.”

-Ella Hammersly

-Kendall Weaver

Roger Myers and the UT Austin viola studio, post recital.

* * * You will greatly missed, Roger. Thank you for your love, your passion, and all of your guidance over the years.

Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 40, No. 2, Fall 2024

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