JAVS Summer 1997

3

FROr-·/l THE PRESIDENT

"'\VJhat a wonderful time to be a violist; what an W exciting time to be a member of the American Viola Society. Our membership is the largest it has ever been and we just celebrated our 25th silver anniversary congress at the University ofTexas at Austin-an extraordinary event, one that will resonate beautifully fOt years. Do you remember my call to action, printed in 1994 jAVS Vol. 10 No.2? The major points were • Double our membership by 1998 • Raise the attendance at our congresses to 600 • Double our Primrose Memorial Scholarship Fund by 1998 • Activate the committee structure • Have rwenty healthy and functioning chapters by 1998. We are well on our way in accomplishing each of

those goals. Kudos to all! Friends, there is much yet to be accomplished. This is my continuing call to action. Winston Churchill said, "There are those who make things happen, there are those who watch things happen and there are those who wonder what happened." Let's you and me together make things happen! • Strive for excellence at all levels of your viola teaching, performing, making, and composition • Help build strong grassroots AVS organizations in your local community • Remember that repetition is a powerful tool Continue to promote the value, power, and beauty of the viola through performance and demonstration. See your local elementary/middle school music teacher and volunteer to demonstrate your love of and skill on the viola to school children. Promote the AVS by continuing to distribute our membership brochure and extol the value of our organization to non-AVS violists. As musicians and as violists we have an important job to do, and, for me, it has to do with music education and Americas musical future. We can join hands and create our future together. With my experience as president over the past three years, my vision has broadened to include • Working to revitalize our parent organization, the International Viola Society, so that it becomes a truly international organization that is responsive to violists in all countries • Collaborating with organizations including the Music Educators National Conference, the American String Teachers Association, Chamber Music America, and the Suzuki Association ofAmerica in projects of mutual interest • Connecting with the professional orchestral violist to create a mutually beneficial relationship. I love my viola as you love yours. Remember that our relationship with our instrument is an affair of the soul, and the American Viola Society represents a unity of our hearts.

AVS President's Change ofAddress: Dr. Thomas Tatton, 7511 Park Woods, Stockton, CA 95207 tel. (209) 952-9367 fax (209) 473-8042