JAVS Fall 1991

3

From the President The XIXth International Viola Congress: a Memorable Event at Ithaca

It's hard to believe that after many months of anticipation, planning, coordination and anxiety, the XIXth International Viola Congress is now a memory. Ah, but what a memory! Trying to find the words to describe the spirit, the camaraderie and the excitement generated during that week in Ithaca is not only difficult, but next to impossible. I guess you just had to have been there to know. Out dear friend and colleague, Louis Lievman, to whose memory this congress is dedicated, would have been impressed and extremely pleased with the high level of excellence and diversification achieved throughout the many lectures, panel discussions, exhibits, master classes and performances. Perhaps the only truly recurring complaint from the approximately three...hundred people in attendance was the lack of free or purely social time. In other words, there were times some of us felt that we were suffering from too much of a good thing. I can personally assure all of you that this issue will be carefully considered as part of the planning process of our 1993 Congress. The overwhelming success of this Congress was due in large part to the cooperation of our host institution, Ithaca College, which provided not only an excellent support staff, but outstanding facilities in a most charming and scenic setting. There is also no doubt that without the heavy involvement and talent of Mary Arlin, a long time AVS and current Ithaca faculty member, who took over the reins as host chairperson at the eleventh hour, there would very likely would not have been an Ithaca Congress. My heartfelt thanks goes to Rosemary Glyde and Harold Coletta for their work on the organizing and planning committee, Manny Vardi, our 1991 Chairman of the Primrose Memorial Scholarship Competition, and Eric Chapman for his role in developing and presenting the Makers Exhibition. Last, but certainly far from least, a huge thank you and bravo to all our fantastic participants (performers, teachers, lecturers, etc.). As though the Congress alone was not enough to fill the five days in Ithaca, our schedule additionally included: the finals of the Primrose Memorial Scholarship Competition, two meetings of the officers and board directors of the American Viola Society, a general AVS membership meeting, and a meeting of the international representatives present in Ithaca. You will find included in this issue of JAVS the minutes of our official meetings in Ithaca, and you will note the major decisions revolved around the issues of long... range planning, budget, fund... raising, membership development and the organization of local AVS chapters. The AVS leadership was tremendously supportive of an idea brought forth by Tom Tatton to coordinate nationally, days dedicated to the "Celebration of the Viola" at a regional level. However, for this idea to become a reality, it will necessitate the receipt of donations in the neighborhood of $4,000. Please do not hesitate to contact Tom Tatton at (209) 952...9367 for more information regarding this project. In closing I wish to thank all of you who took the time and made the effort to attend the Ithaca Congress, for without you, there would not be an International Viola Congress.

Alan de Veritch