JAVS Spring 2026

From the President

Dear Friends and Fellow Viola Lovers,

Warmest greetings to you during this winter season. While many of us are navigating snow, ice, and shorter days, the work of the American Viola Society continues at full pace—and already our sights are set on the months ahead, when we will gather once again to celebrate our shared passion for the viola.

While Festival planning has been underway, the broader work of AVS continues year-round. Our committees have been busy selecting recipients for the 2025 AVS Presents recording project, gathering nominations for the 2026–2029 AVS Board cohort, and advancing programs that directly support teachers and students. This includes our second annual Mid-Winter Teacher Potluck online event and our fourth annual Educator Mini-Grant Program, created to empower viola educators with resources for professional development and creative studio initiatives. This issue of the Journal of the American Viola Society further reflects the richness of our community. I hope you enjoy the Feature Articles by laureates of the 2025 David Dalton Research Competition—Kylie Baird, Brightin Rose-Schlumpf, and Vanese McPherson—as well as Part 3 of The Viola Behind the Iron Curtain by emerging scholar Netanel Pollak. You will also find practical guidance on topics ranging from teaching and engagement to timely tax considerations, alongside news and reviews from across the viola world. Thank you for supporting the American Viola Society through your membership and generosity. Your involvement makes possible everything we do—from festivals and competitions to publications, grants, and Greenroom events. If AVS has been meaningful to you, I encourage you to share that experience with a colleague, student, or friend. Our strength lies in this community, and we are stronger together.

I am delighted to invite you to join us June 3–6, 2026, at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, for the 2026 American Viola Society Festival. This biennial event represents one of the Society’s most meaningful opportunities to bring our diverse community together—students, teachers, performers, researchers, and enthusiasts alike—for learning, collaboration, and inspiration. The upcoming Festival reflects the depth and vitality of our organization. Alongside distinguished guest artists such as Marina Thibeault, Victoria Chiang, Rudolf Haken, guest composer Kevin Day, and the Northern Virginia String Quartet, we are especially excited to introduce a new Teacher-in-Residence initiative, featuring Peter Slowik and other respected pedagogues offering open lessons. The Festival will also showcase an illustrious slate of artists and educators selected through our proposals process, final-round performances by participants in our Solo and Orchestral Excerpts Competitions, and a wide range of masterclasses designed to serve violists at every stage of their journey. Take a look at the roster on our website:

Yours in alto clef,

Ames Asbell President

Advertiser Index 2026 AVS Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... IBC Anderson Musical Instrument Insurance Solutions. . . . . . . ....... BC AVS History & Reference Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 60 David Dalton Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 6

Moes & Moes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Robertson & Sons Violin Shop, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . ...........IFC Roosevelt University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 60

4

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