JAVS Fall 2008

opportunities to violists interested in learning more about their instrument, its repertoire, and per formance possibilities.

a demonstration-recital. A fasci nating look into the world of solo baroque viola performance, it was a delight to see and hear Christine’s skilled and enthusiastic presentation. She explained the differences in baroque and modern instruments, and demonstrated on her own baroque viola how baroque compositions call for completely different physical and musical techniques than those of the modern era. Each of the mas ter class performers made signifi cant changes and was inspired by a new understanding of baroque performance practice. In December 2007, members of the CTVS and friends gathered to do some “viola caroling” at two local convalescent homes in Austin. At each one, we talked with residents and answered ques tions, as many were unfamiliar with the instrument. These per formances were meaningful not only to our audiences, but gave members a way to bring our ensemble playing into the wider community. In the 2008-09 season the CTVS looks forward to many varied activities including seminars on improvisation for violists and movement techniques for healthy playing. At present we are primarily com posed of violists in the Austin met ropolitan area, but hope to include communities within driving dis tance. At the crossroads of many different types of music and per formers in Austin, the Central Texas Viola Society is making its own mark and offering valuable

Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Montana, Delaware, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Guam, Virgin Islands, N. Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. Please contact me at kamart@ufl.edu if you are from one of these Central Texas Based in Austin, Texas, the Central Texas Viola Society was formed as a chapter of the AVS in the winter of 2005. In its first two years, the CTVS offered educational out reach opportunities, including All Region and All-State audition workshops for area high school students, an open rehearsal with Nokuthula Ngwneyama and the Austin Symphony, and a series of ensemble-playing social events. We kicked off the 2007-2008 sea son in September by offering our 3rd annual All-Region and All State audition workshops, taught by CTVS members Ames Asbell, Martha Carapetyan, and Bruce Williams. Workshop attendance increased for the third year in a row, and the students were bright, well-prepared, and interested in learning the ins and outs of preparing for auditions. We are proud that most of the students who attended the classes were suc cessful in their auditions. Congratulations to all who partici pated! In November 2007, the CTVS hosted its first visiting artist. Christine Rutledge, Associate Professor of Viola at the University of Iowa, gave a master class on baroque viola playing, followed by

– Martha Carapetyan

Gulf Coast

The Gulf Coast Viola Society was formed in the spring of 2008 at Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Violists from the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and students and teachers from area universities attended the first meeting. Our elected officers are: Hsiaopei Lee, President Bruce Owen, President-elect Paula Krupiczewicz, Treasurer Julia Howell, Secretary Our past events included a viola recital and a master class with Bruce Owen (Loyola University) at the University of Southern Mississippi and a viola master class with Roberto Diaz at Loyola University. Upcoming events include a viola master class with Matthew Dane at Loyola University in November; a recital by Hsiaopei Lee (USM) perform ing works by Shostakovich, Sibelius, Bridge, and Clarke in November in Hattiesburg, Mississippi; and a Viola Day in spring 2009. The Gulf Coast Viola Society plans to set up a website, newsletter, regional viola competi tion, and a viola recital series in the near future. We hope to extend our recruiting efforts to violists from the regional area of Southern Louisiana, Mississippi, and

J OURNAL OF THE AMERICAN VIOLA SOCIETY 74