JAVS Spring 2026

From the Editor

Dearest friends of the alto clef persuasion, Spring is here, which means renewal, fresh ideas, and that peculiar mix of excitement and exhaustion that comes from saying “yes” to something big before fully remembering how much work it will be. I write to you in that exact moment—mid-stride, slightly over-caffeinated, and very happily deep in the planning of the 2026 AVS Festival in Harrisonburg, Virginia,

thoughtfulness to work that shapes young artists’ experiences. Kimia Hesabi, our Volunteer Coordinator, has the rare gift of turning chaos into community. Rose Wollman, our EMVB Coordinator, leads the Exhibition of Modern Violas and Bows, our competition for luthiers and archetiers, where the spotlight shifts—briefly but proudly—from the left hand to the workshop. Lanson Wells, our Program Book Coordinator, somehow transforms sprawling information into coherence and grace. And anchoring us all is our JMU host, Diane Phoenix Neal, whose warmth, wisdom, and institutional memory remind us that these festivals are as much about hospitality as they are about programming. That spirit carries directly into this issue of the JAVS. I’m especially pleased to highlight three of our Featured Articles from our 2025 Dalton Competition winners. Together, they delve into important scholarly questions, resist the easy answers, and embody the reflective, curious mindset that serves our field so well. If this letter sounds like controlled enthusiasm with a to-do list tucked under its arm and wearing sensible shoes … that’s probably accurate. Between planning the 2026 Festival from the ground up and assembling this Journal page by page, I’ve been reminded how much care—and how many people—it takes to build the structures that hold our community together.

hosted by the wonderful James Madison University.

Festival planning, as it turns out, has a lot in common with viola playing—and with building an issue of the Journal . You start with a vision, spend a lot of time adjusting things you didn’t know needed adjusting, and rely heavily on the people around you to make the whole enterprise sing. There are moments of beautiful flow, moments of intense focus, and the occasional “wait…how did we get here?” followed closely by “oh—that’s how.” Putting together this Spring issue has felt remarkably similar to building the Festival itself: laying foundations, shaping structure, and trusting that many small, thoughtful decisions will eventually add up to something meaningful. Neither project is a solo act. Both depend on collaboration, generosity, and a shared belief that the viola—and the people who love it—are worth the effort. I am endlessly grateful for the extraordinary team helping bring the 2026 Festival to life. Tony Devroye, our Assistant Coordinator and Proposals Coordinator, keeps the big picture clear and the details grounded. Gabriella Padilla Molina, our Competitions Coordinator, brings care, integrity, and deep

A surprising number, as it turns out.

And thankfully, every one of them showed up.

Thank you for reading, for contributing, and for showing up with curiosity, generosity, and just enough pluck to keep us all on our toes. With appreciation (and with a slightly tired but very happy bow arm),

Dr. Ebersohl-Van Scyoc

Join the American Viola Society Your membership supports the viola community through performance, education, research, mentoring, publishing, commissioning new works and more. www.americanviolasociety.org/Join.php

Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 42, No. 1, Spring 2026

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