JAVS Spring 2025

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The American Viola Society was not what I had in mind as the reason for as to why I would be going to Los Angeles this past year. In fact, I didn’t even anticipate the fact that I would be able to visit such an amazing city; a melting pot of different cultures from all over the world, all merged at the heart of the West Coast of the United States. But aside from that, my experiences in LA were amazing, largely due to the American Viola Society and the activities that were available to us and our group. Among some of my favorite activities were the few practices my viola quartet shared with the entirety of the Viola ensemble. With so many different people from all corners of the USA and North America collectively, it was amazing and wonderful to see so many people of different backgrounds with unique stories and different skill levels joined together at the junction of the universal fondness for the viola. Aside from many fantastic and truly impressive performances, as well as truly commendable performing from my quartet, the community and environment of the American Viola Society was the pinnacle of my joy and delight, and is what will make me look back on the summer of 2024 and confidently say that it was my best summer break to date. Ben

At Grand Central Market (Front Row, L-R): Freya Price, McKayla Hwang, and Maeve Henderson. (Middle Row, L-R): Antonella Tarsia, Grace Yu, and David Park. (Back Row, L-R): Ben Truong, Lucas Lauprasert, and Marcos Salvador Riera. Photo courtesy of Joyce Chan Grabell.

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I attended the AVS Festival this past June as part of the CCM Prep Viola Quartet. I had previously been a finalist for the Junior Division Solo Competition back when I was in middle school, but unfortunately it was during COVID, and the festival was completely online. It was such a huge difference getting to experience going in person this year after attending the virtual festival in 2021. I got to meet so many wonderful and talented violists, including fellow young violists from the Settlement Music School Viola Choir. Meeting and playing with people your age, that you have so much shared experience with is just something that doesn’t happen every day. This festival has been special to me both times I’ve attended; even online, they made it a great experience. You just don’t find so many great violas all together like this anywhere else. Maeve

In rehearsal at Colburn. (L-R): Lucas Lauprasert, Grace Yu, Freya Price, McKayla Hwang, Maeve Henderson, Ben Truong, David Park, Marcos Salvador Riera, Antonella Tarsia, and Isabella Wang. Photo courtesy of Joyce Chan Grabell.

Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 41, No. 1, Spring 2025

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