JAVS Fall 2000

46

VoL 16 No.3

jOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN VIOLA SOCIETY

I suggest that all candidates view a video production of the opera and develop a general understanding of the work. After all, Wagner did not composer Tannhauser in order to provide audition material. In fact, no orchestral work was composed for that purpose. Going to an audi tion with refined concepts of all the material is likely to reach a conductor and a panel of orches tra musicians. Correct all misprints. Know tempos and dynamics. Play the correct notes and acci dentals. Play a mock audition for an experienced orchestra player before going to the actual audition. At the audition, play the excerpts with musical understanding and try to give the panel the impression that you enjoy playing them. I wish all prospective viola candidates good luck in the preparation of this challenging, intense, dynamic, and exhausting Wagner excerpt. 18 -Charles Pikler joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1978 as a violinist and in 1986 was named principal violist. Pikler launched his career as a violinist with the Minnesota Orchestra in 1971, later becoming a member of the Cleveland Orchestra (1974 to 1976) and the Rotterdam Philharmonic (1976 to 1978). Pikler served as guest principal violist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1995 and 1996. He has been featured as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as well as with other orchestras in the Chicago area. Pikler activelyperforms on the violin both as soloist and as concertmaster ofChicago area orchestras including the Northbrook Symphony and the Chicago Chamber Orchestra. Mr. Pikler has specialized in transcriptions. Some ofhis transcriptions for viola include the Mozart Concerto (originally for violin) KV. 218, the Boccherini Concerto (originally for the cello), Bruch's Kol Nidrei (originally for the cello), and Bloch's Prayer (originally for the cello). Pikler has performed in the Chicago Symphony String Quartet and as guest artist with the Daniel Quartet ofHolland, the Vermeer Quartet ofDe Kalb, and the Boston Artist Ensemble. He is also on Faculty at Northpark University in Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University, and the Sewanee Summer Music Festival in Sewanee, Tennessee. Pikler has also given master classes at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Steven McCann Maker of Violas • Violins • Cellos

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