JAVS Spring 2025

From the President

California. When considering these two incredible champions of the viola, I am fascinated by the similarities in their biographies: both were acclaimed protégés of the legendary William Primrose, and both assumed their “signature” teaching posts in the same year – 1985. Both left an enduring legacy of performance artistry via their extensive discographies of recorded works, and both shaped the American viola landscape through their indelible impact on generations of students. Both were awarded our society’s highest honor for career achievement, and both will be remembered and treasured for their contributions to our beloved instrument. Believe it or not, the AVS Festival Committee is already hard at work planning for a wonderful 2026 American Viola Society Festival . If you haven’t already, please mark your calendar for June 3-6, 2026, and plan to join us at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. The Call for Proposals is available on our festival webpage, so start planning your proposals and be sure to submit by August 15, 2025! There is so much to enjoy in this month’s journal, I’m not sure where to start! There’s truly something for everyone, whether you are interested in learning about process of transcribing Bach or discovering new twentieth century music from David Dalton Research Competition prizewinners, finding the best viola fit and setup for pain-free playing, learning about our history ( In Memoriam ) and our future (Tertis and Aronowitz Competitions, AVS Festival Youth Competitions), or just deciding which repertoire to study or which recording to listen to next. I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I know I will. Thank you so much for supporting the AVS through your membership and donations. They are vital to helping us fulfill our mission and serve violists everywhere through our programs – including this journal. If you’re enjoying your membership, please tell a friend about the AVS. If you have ideas for us or are interested in volunteering, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d love to hear from you!

Dear Friends in Alto Clef,

Greetings on behalf of the American Viola Society! I hope you are staying warm and staying well, and that by the time you are reading this, Spring will be in full swing and winter’s viruses and travel delays will be a distant memory. As I sit down to write to you, I have teachers and students on my mind – perhaps because it’s the season for music education conferences, or perhaps because the AVS has been

working hard to develop support for viola educators!

Today, I’m feeling energized by our recent AVS Mid-Winter Teacher “Potluck” event. Teachers from as far away as France and Israel joined online to share their favorite teaching tips and tricks, and lively discussion ensued. The link is available on our website if you’re interested in watching. Thank you and kudos to the AVS Education Committee for organizing this fantastic gathering! Education is also on my mind as I reflect with gratitude on the recent success of our AVS Education Fund Matching Grant program. Last year, a generous donor gave $4000 to support our educational initiatives, and your generous donations met that match, raising over $8000 to establish the AVS Education Fund! We will continue fundraising to build this fund for the next few years, raising support for the AVS Educator Mini Grant and other educational programs. Our 2025 Educator Mini-Grant program is accepting submissions until April 1, so if you need funding for an innovative studio project, be sure to apply! As we reflect on our educational activities, we recognize the loss of two icons of viola pedagogy: Yizhak Schotten , longtime faculty at the University of Michigan, passed away this past September, followed in October by Donald McInnes , late of the University of Southern Advertiser Index Alfaro Violins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... 30 Anderson Musical Instrument Insurance Solutions. . . . . . ....... IBC AVS History & Reference Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 58 Connolly Music Company/Thomastik-Infeld. . . . . . . . . ......... BC David Dalton Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 6

Happy Viola Spring!

Ames Asbell President

Moes & Moes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 NoteWorthy Federal Credit Union. . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 16 Robertson & Sons Violin Shop, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . ...........IFC Roosevelt University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 55

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