JAVS Summer 2018

From the President

Hello my friends,

to nd out more about the instrument. Do you attend local viola events? ose events are good places to nd violists who are active, but don’t yet know about the AVS, or perhaps haven’t been encouraged to check us out. e most e ective way for any organization to build its membership is through word of mouth, and by having current members “talk up” the organization. Also, remember that we have a very inexpensive student membership, and any and all students are eligible for the $28 per year rate. You are our most e ective membership recruiters. We welcome violists of all stripes, composers for the viola, and in fact all people interested in the viola, regardless of their background. Does your state, city, or local university have a viola organization? I would love to know about it so I can add it to our Local Viola Organizations page on the website. If you don’t have one and would like help organizing one, contact me and I will send you some material to assist with the process. As I close this letter I want to thank you personally for your continued support of the AVS. Membership is the lifeblood of any organization, and every member is equally important in sustaining the body that we call the American Viola Society.

Here we are at the end of another year, one that saw the completion of a very successful 2018 AVS Festival, combined with the Primrose International Viola Competition. Many thanks to the faculty and sta at the Colburn School for their sponsorship of the PIVC and for

hosting the AVS 2018 Festival, and to AVS Past-President Kathy Steely for making the whole thing happen. e sessions were excellent, and our exhibitors went out of their way to cater to the attendees. I hope you were able to make it to LA, but if not, there will be other opportunities. I fact the University of Tennessee in Knoxville will be hosting the 2020 AVS Festival. Our AVS President-Elect Hillary Herndon is the viola professor at the UT, and she and Ames Asbell, the festival coordinator for the 2020 festival will be collaborating to produce another excellent festival experience. Ames is already working on committees, budget, and all of the other things that go into making a festival a success. Stay tuned for more information on how you can apply to present, perform, or exhibit in Tennessee. Be sure to mark June 3–6, 2020 on your calendars. AVS membership has increased to around 900 people. Our goal by 2020 is to reach 1000 members. It will be a push, but you can help us make it. Do you know violists who aren’t full-time musicians, but like to play? Maybe you know someone who likes to compose, and has an interest in exploring viola composition but needs

Warm regards,

Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 34, 2018 Online Issue

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