JAVS Fall 2012

F ROM THE P RESIDENT

In addition to these many benefits, we have developed a new AVS studio blog featuring members of Heidi Castleman’s class at the Juilliard School. If you have not yet seen it, please check it out at americanviolaso ciety.org/studio. The AVS also plans to launch an orchestral excerpt competi tion next year. It has been exciting working with the committee, and this will provide a novel platform for young The AVS board is busy reviewing and implementing items from our recently completed strategic planning report, which include immediate and long term goals. We are developing ways to fund our many projects and increase endowments for the indispensable projects we provide. These projects take time, commitment, and, yes, money as we continue to promote the viola in a multi-faceted way. Fifty years ago, our organization was only a dream held by a few hard working and dedi cated violists, a dream that quickly gained the support of violists around the world. Today, the AVS needs you to continue building and promoting the legacy for violists worldwide. So, I hope you will please remember the AVS in your holiday gift-giving plans. Gift memberships are a great way to expand our family. The AVS board has made an important commit ment to bring in new members, and we invite you to join us. Have a won derful season, and I look forward to seeing you soon. players to gain experience in an increasingly competitive field.

The Executive Board continues to work tirelessly on many projects. One is our annual fall membership drive. Membership is the lifeblood of any organ ization, and yours is vital to the health of the AVS. your membership dues fund a range of important projects that are essen tial to the ongoing development of the viola and the viola community. • Presenting a forum for publication of ongoing research into the history, lit erature, and pedagogy of the viola through the Journal of the American Viola Society and the David Dalton Viola Research Competition. • Providing opportunities for the viola “stars” of tomorrow to shine through one of the leading competitions in the world dedicated solely to viola performance at the highest level of excellence: The Primrose International Viola Competition. • Supporting the continued generation of new music for our instrument through the Maurice Gardner Composition Competition. • Offering young violists access to bet ter instruments through the AVS Viola Bank program. • Making possible the growing number of free scores and digital downloads available to the public through the American Viola Society website. • Providing seed money for viola gath erings that feature some of the best the viola world has to offer! Thank you for:

Dear Beloved Members,

Happy autumn! It is hard to believe that a year has passed since assuming the presidency of our organization. I have had the opportunity to visit and perform in many places this season. Everywhere I go—from Des Moines to Washington, DC; Los Angeles to New york; Montgomery to Cincinnati; and Phoenix in between—I speak with members who are excited about the development of our organization and who recruit those not yet in the fold. It has been great seeing so many of you. Please accept gratitude from the Executive Board and me for your sup port in the recent passage of bylaws changes. These changes enable us to function more responsibly as a non-prof it organization while continuing to pro vide opportunities that maintain our international relationships and relevancy.

Warm Regards, Nokuthula Ngwenyama

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