JAVS Fall 2011

viola.” In Bryan Lew’s opinion, “It has been a valu able networking tool for me as I have been able to interact with and meet lots of people associated with the archive. This has helped me establish relation ships that could last for a long period of time.” Jennifer Halverson said a highlight of her senior year was meeting Peter Bartók when he visited the archive on the same day that she graduated from Byu. Andrew Snow enjoyed one-on-one time spent with Emanuel Vardi. “I drove him to the airport and saw him to his flight. While we were (at the airport) drinking lemonades, he told me about his view of the viola and also just related some of his life experiences, which were both amusing and insightful.” Andrew had another experience with Burt Fisch, the violist who along with cellist David Soyer performed the first reading and recording of Bartók’s concerto when Serly was putting that work together. Fisch had been invited to Byu to speak about that experience and donate some memorabilia to the archive. Andrew and some other students provided transportation for Fisch, and they were able to discuss his life experi ences. Andrew is humbled to have had two such rare opportunities. he says, “Both of these men are great artists and have a wealth of life experience and histo ry. It was really great to get to know them and match personalities and experiences with the recordings and the history, which I think is important to under standing the art.” All told, experiences in the Primrose International Viola Archive have had a lasting effect on the students who have worked there. Their names might not appear in the guestbook, but the archive continues to grow and thrive due to their contributions. And they continue to grow and thrive as musicians as they remember the inspiration they drew from the archive. Myrna Layton is the Public Services Manager for BYU’s Music and Dance Library, which includes responsibility for the Primrose International Viola Archive, and is in her tenth year in this position. After completing her undergraduate education at BYU, she received a Masters of Arts in Humanities from California State University and an MLIS from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. Myrna is par ticularly interested in World Music, especially if there is a viola connection. She plays in a Balinese gamelan at BYU and researches Bollywood film music.

J OuRNAL OF ThE AMERICAN VIOLA SOCIETy 56