JAVS Fall 2006

and Heidi Casrleman (who was presented with the University of Montreal's hon orary doctorate earlier in d1e on gress). Beyond demonstrating their pedagogy near!y all the mentioned instructors per formed in recital or concert . This was a grea t (l dded benefit to my becoming acquain ted with individual styles.

Michael Kugel in Concert The opening concen on

Wednesday, June 7 was given by Michael Kugel and was one of four concerts of the ongress given entirely by one soloist. Kugel is a professor at the hent Royal onservatory (Belgium) and at the Maastricht Royal onservato ry (Holland). The diverse program began with Onslow Sonata in C Minor, fol - lowed by Paganini II Carnevale di Venezia arranged by Kugel. Kugel pointed out that 2006 is the yea r of Sho takovich, whom he hon ored in his program's second half. Kugel performed his own compo sition, Suitr in Memoriam Shostakovich, which had elements of several works of hostakovich and finished his program wirh the hostakovich Viola Sonata. Kugel 's concert was memorable for a number of reasons. His Auid sound was extremely set apart from the orher performers by the use of a f<~s ter vibrato. This choice of vibrato may be a point of con troversy for some concerned with what "fits" rhe viola rone, bur I appreciated it. (This may be because orten it is sugge ted tO me by my peers that f use tOO fast a vibrato ar rimes.) Kugel demon strated thar a fa t vibraro can raise the level or in tensity tO create an emotionally shocking musical statement. On rhe other hand ir can add a rouch of playfulne s and fun to a piece such a.~ 11 Carnevale. II Clrnevale is unique or all the pieces performed at the congress in rhat it is purely a showpiece. Based on the tune known to many as "My Hat, it has Three orners," rhe melody

Steve Larson in recital

Barbara Westphal in recital

should be to ;mend the congress master classes in order to better understand the reaching styles of the professo r that come ro parti ci pate from the USA, Canada, and Europe. l was ve1y in terested in seeing the professional communi ty in action and wa gratefu l that con sideration was taken to keep con Aicring schedules of master classes, recitals, and concerts to a mini mum. When such conAicrs did arise, I found myself rorn in my decision and some worthy evcnrs were victim of my inability to be in rwo places at once. Perhaps meas ures could be taken in furure con gresses ro allow for all events to be included in one's experi ence. Ten master clas es were given throughout the week. The ma ters were Lars Tomter, Michel Michalakakos, Steven Dann, Andre Roy, Michael Kugel , I3runo Giu rrana, Henrik Frendin , Roberto Di az, iegfried Fuhrlinger,

The selected srudents performing for the master classes came from a variety of locations across the globe, bu r most were from the University of Montreal. I arrended nine of the ren, gleaning instruc tion and ideas from the very differ ent styles and experiences of the instructor and enjoyi ng the per formances of my peers. Perhaps what mo r caught my ;mention and thar of others who were pres ent at the 2005 Inrernarional Primrose Competition was rhe performance of Bo Li who came from Beijing, hina. In Michael Kugel 's class he presented a stun ning and aggressive perform:111ce of J.S. Bach/Zolran Kodaly Chromatic Fanrasie for Viola olo

demonstrating an impressive degree of progress from the

Primrose Competition master class performance he gave the prev ious year.

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