JAVS Fall 2008

IVS N EWS S ECTION U PDATES

In honor of the 40th Anniversary of the International Viola Society, we are catching up with news from other IVS sections. Australian and New ZealandViola Society The Australian and New Zealand Viola Society (ANZVS) has a thriving Australasian membership of 170, plus a few ex-pats in the northern hemisphere. Two of our members have been very highly honored nationally this year: Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) was awarded to Gillian Ansell, violist of the NZ String Quartet; and the Queen's Service Medal (QSM) to Michael Vidulich, the IVS President, for services to music in the voluntary sector. We publish two ANZVS Journals each year; Issue no. 23 came out in June. Our journals feature concert reviews, articles and reviews on music written for the viola (one or two of these have been of a very humor ous nature), practical issues about looking after your instrument, and viola happenings around New Zealand and Australia. The latest journal also features new viola student ensemble music with a Carl Orff approach. The next issue is due in October/November. Copies of most backissues are available from the secretary/treasurer, Neil Shepherd. Last year the 35th International Viola Congress was hosted very successfully by Keith Crellin at The University of Adelaide. This was the second International Viola Congress hosted in the Southern Hemisphere (Odyssey 2001 in Wellington was the first). Australians and New Zealanders like to travel, and there will always be ANZVS members present at every International Viola Congress.

Official logo of the Australian and New Zealand Viola Society.

ENGLISHVIOLA SOCIETY

The English Viola Society was formed in September 2007 after initial discussions with Dr. Michael Vidulich during the Adelaide International Viola Congress in July 2007. I traveled back from Australia to England with a multitude of ideas, but not know ing quite how to actually found the English Viola Society. Since the Welsh Viola Society was formed only a short time before the EVS, I decided to give them a call asking if they wanted to join ranks. However, it seems the most pragmatic and fruitful prospect to remain independent but support one another! After an exciting phone call with John White to ask for his blessing and support as Honorary President, the stage was set for action. So, in early September 2007 the EVS was born. With Dr. Michael Vidulich’s help I drew up a constitution and began to formulate plans, including choosing a secre

– Neil Shepherd Secretary/Treasurer, ANZVS

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