JAVS Fall 2012

E ASTMAN ’ S E NCORE IVC 2012 IN R EVIEW

and that is not counting the thousands of people (yes, thousands) who heard a pair of viola concertos as part of the Rochester Philharmonic concerts on May 31 and June 2. Honoring Eastman’s previ ous viola congress, the 2012 hosts selected, “What’s Past is Prologue,” a quote from Shakespeare’s The Tempest , as their theme. While the past was appropriately honored at the event, this was truly a viola congress for the twen ty-first century with viola after-dark events, wellness sessions, a Community Viola Day, and repertoire

From left to right: IVC 40 hosts Phillip Ying, Carol Rodland, and George Taylor; IVS President Kenneth Martinson; and IVS Secretary Louise Lansdown (all photos courtesy of Dwight Pounds)

by David M. Bynog

that was heavily slanted toward works written within this century (the events detailed below cover only a small number of sessions and do not adequately rep resent the full spectrum of activities at the congress). The hosts were assisted by Eastman viola students and interns Katherine Hagen and Alexander Peña, who helped things to run smoothly. And things ran very smoothly, with the most problematic issue being periodic bleed-through of sound into Kilbourn Hall from violists who were sampling exhibitors’ instruments in the mezzanine hallway outside.

Great acts are hard to follow. Though it has been thirty-five years since the Eastman School of Music hosted the Fifth International Viola Congress, the memory of that event—which featured appearances by William Primrose, Paul Doktor, Francis Tursi, Michael Tree, and Heidi Castleman (just to name a few) and attracted more than 250 attendees—looms large in the viola community. So the bar was set high with expectations for another stellar congress at Eastman. The hosts of the Fortieth International Viola Congress were up to the challenge, and Carol Rodland, George Taylor, and Phillip ying produced a worthy successor, filling the 2012 congress with an array of renowned artists, exciting repertoire, and diverse events. More importantly, they provided a warm and inviting atmosphere—and people accept ed their invitation; approximately six hundred peo ple enjoyed the event over the course of five days,

Wednesday, May 30

Events kicked off at noon on May 30, with the com bined Eastman and Beijing viola choirs performing Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man . Welcoming remarks followed by the congress hosts, Dean of the Eastman School of Music Douglas Lowry, David Coppen of the Sibley Music Library, IVS President

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