JAVS Summer 2000

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ABOUT VIOLISTS

New England Conservatory announces the appointment of world-renowned violist Kim Kashkashian. Hailed by audiences and critics alike as one of the most accomplished artists of her generation, Kashkashian will join the String Department faculty, beginning Fall2000. "Kim Kashkashian exemplifies NEC's ideal teacher: a superb artist, an impassioned mentor, a powerful advocate for new music, and a deeply caring colleague and friend," said NEC Provost Alan Fletcher. Clark Potter, viola professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, performed a recital on March 6, 2000, which featured five premieres of viola pieces by Nebraska composers. Included on the program were December Music for Solo Viola (1999) by Randall Snyder, Ballad and Variation for Viola and Piano (2000) by Kenton Bales, Vignettes for Viola and Percussion (2000) by Jean Henderson, Concerto for Viola and Orchestra (1974, piano reduction by com poser, 1999) by Martin Gaskell, and Out of Former Houston Symphony principal violist Wayne Crouse died Friday, 19 May 2000 of cancer in Houston. He was 75. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Crouse played with the Houston Symphony for 32 years, 28 as principal violist. He taught at the University of Houston and Rice University. With his sunny personality, quick wit and superb playing, he was a highly popular and highly regarded musician. On retirement from the symphony in 1983, he moved to the University of Okla

Kashkashian's extensive teaching activity includes several years at the Mannes College ofMusic and two years as Professor ofViola at Indiana University in Bloomington. She is currently Professor ofViola at the Hochschule fiir Musik in Berlin, Germany. Born in Detroit, Michigan, of Armenian descent, Kashkashian graduated from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Walter Trampler and Karen Tuttle.

Viola, Out ofMy Mind (1999), a fiddle tune about the trials and tribulations of a violinist learning alto clef, by Deborah Greenblatt and arranged by Potter for a violist, guitarist, and bassist, all ofwhom also sing! Anyone request ing information about any of these as yet unpublished pieces may do so at: cpotter1@unl.edu Other composers interested in having new works for viola performed may contact Clark Potter at the same address. homa, where he taught and performed through 1998. He then returned to Houston. Survivors include his partner, Edward Petsch of Houston; brother Robert Crouse of Tacoma, Washington, and nine nieces and nephews. Donations may be made to the Wayne Crouse Viola Scholarship Fund of the University of Oklahoma Foundation, c/o School ofMusic, Oklahoma University, 500 W. Boyd, Norman, OK 73019.