JAVS Fall 2005

2005 PRIMROSE FEStiVAr AND COMPETITION REVIEVV

(1993) Daniel Foster (1989). Ngwenyama's program showed off her special ability to set beautifu l, captivating moods with a throaty contralto voice. Foster displayed exquisite phrasing that naturally spoke the Classical language of Schubert's Arppeggione Sonata. Brant Bayless, vio list of d1e Utah Symphony, sported a silky, luscious sound with a bow technique approaching the balletic. Michael Fernandez, principal violist of the Alabama Sympho ny, performed the final evening recital, putting togemer a d iverse program that highlighted lesser-known works from the Primrose International Viola Archive. Lectures and master classes were laced through the week's sch edule. Dwight Pounds spoke on the his tory of me AVS as an o rganization, a narural outgrowm of his person ally extensive and intimate knowl edge of the subject. David Dalton gave an overview of the inception of the Primrose International Viola Archive (PTVA), housed at BYU, a story completed by several slides, a movie, and a wonderfully dry sense of humor. Carrie Maxwell, a BYU student violist who works in PIVA, also delivered a we ll -prepared lec ture on the newly donated Haro ld Colletta collection. Maxwell dis cussed d1e contents of this specific collection as well as archiving methods in general; included were informative slides. Competitors who did not pass on to the semi -

The viola activi ties of the summer of 2005 began with many beautiful and exciting Aourishes-at the Primrose Memorial Scholarship Competition and Festiva l, which was held May 24-28 at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Over the course of five days, all present were treated to a program that celebrated both current high level of achievement of the com petitors, and the continuing quest of everyone for deeper understand ing of music-making and commu nity. The Primrose Memorial Scholarship Competition started in 1987 and bas occurred biannual ly. Originally, th e PMSC took place as a part of the North American International Congress. For various reasons, this hasn't been in the case in the recent past however; the Competition started standing by itself between Congress years. T his year's host, BYU Professor and Utah VS President C laudine Bigelow, creat ed a "mini-Cong ress" around the PMSC, to augment the experience for both competitors and listen ers. With master classes, lectures, and guest recitals added, the event this year ce rtainly deserved irs tide of Primrose Competition and Festival. The Festival featured four guests in evening recitals, each ofwhom added a unique gift of program ming and performance. The recitals began wid1 rwo former Primrose first-prize winners,

Host Claudine Bigelow with BYUAssociate Dean Rory Scanlon.

Brant Bayless and jason Hardinle in recital.

Presenter Carrie Maxwell

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