JAVS Fall 1997

74

Glasgow in 1998 for the purpose of bringing an international representation of the world's violists together to examine future directions. This Forum would be sponsored jointly by the IVG and the Hosts of the Glasgow Congress and represent a new level of inter national cooperation. Forum membership would consist of the chief executive officers of the IVG and the various viola organizations that wish to participate. IVG President Gunter Ojstersek, would be the logical mod erator, but given the fact that the congress convenes in an English-speaking country, I recommend that a Scot conduct the meeting with President Ojstedek at his side. A posi tion on the Forum could be extended to one other representative from each of the partici pating viola societies, elected or appointed as the various sections choose. The Forum ini tially would have no formal membership, no budget outside the IVG, and would consist of representatives of those viola organizations that choose to participate. Widespread support and participation of viola organizations and their respective leaderships would be an essen tial condition for any success such a Forum might enjoy. Invitations to participate in the Forum would be extended to any viable national or municipal viola organization, including the independent Dutch Viola Society (which has never been an IVG member), the NYVS, the Danes, Koreans, Israelis, and Japanese. Representatives of countries lacking a viola society but with many active violists (such as Israel) would be permitted to act as observers. Municipal viola societies (NYVC, Chicago, Rocky Mountain, etc.), even those that be long to a parent IVG-affiliated organization such as the AVS, would also be invited to send observers. This suggestion is controversial: Europeans may be sensitive about viola organizations that have never been IVG members; many Americans feel strongly about the NYVS not being affiliated with the AVS, and some may object to the prospect of municipal participa tion. Voting within the Forum initially would reveal consensus only and not determine offi cial policy. The new Forum, if approached with common purpose rather than old preju-

adopted to make the organization as appeal ing to performers, teachers, and students as to academics. IVG leadership remained in Europe, however, primarily in the German speaking areas ofAustria and Germany; active participation was largely Austrian/German and North American, with lesser input from other countries. Parting with the past can be difficult for people and organizations alike. After many years of studying IVG history, I am of the opinion that formation of an International Viola Forum (IVF) may be the next logical organizational step in international viola cooperation-following the VFG, the IVFG, and the IVG in a continuing evolution of international service to the viola. The follow ing recommendations are made with this evo lutionary history in mind: I recommend that a new international structure be formed within the IVG structure to ensure that the viola receives the same intense level of international support in per formance, composition, scholarship, and instrument building in the twenty-first cen tury as has been demonstrated since 1968. Such an organizational structure would, at least initially, exist within the IVG structure; in time it would either coexist with the IVG structure (and the various IVG member sec tions) or eventually replace it. It is illogical to expect the IVG to go out of existence or to relinquish its current duties to another organization. If it faces loss of inter national membership (as with the proposed departure of the AVS), it will nonetheless con tinue to exist as a viable organization. The IVG could and probably would (1) concen trate on developing and coordinating Euro pean membership and viola activities, (2) pos sibly return a strong part of its focus to its original and historic purpose, research and scholarship, and (3) coordinate activities (congresses, Viola Days, competitions, news letters, etc.) internationally with nonmember sections. I further recommend that the IVG call an International Viola Forum to meet at VIOLA FORUM