JAVS Winter 1991

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annual week,long masterclass workshop at Northwestern. From July 15 to July 19, selected advanced high school, college, and pre, professional students worked on everything from vibrato and bow arms to stage fright and orchestral excerpts. Upcoming masterclasses to be held at Northwestern University include Richard Young (Professor of Viola at Northern Illinois University and Violist with the Vermeer Quartet) on January 8 and Yizhak Schotten, some time before June. Also Peter Slowik will be giving a masterclass at Northern Illinois University on January 17. Over the summer, Paul Neubauer made his Grant Park Symphony debut with conductor Marin Alsop on July 10 and 12 playing Hindemith's Der Schwanenddreher. The Chicago Tribune said of the July 10 concert, "When you hear a violist as superb as Neubauer, you have to regret that moTe composers did not write for the instrument. " Lastly, at Northwestern University's Lutkin Hall, in an almost empty auditorium, a solo reciral was given by Norwegian violist Lars Anders Tomter. Mr. Tomter is the Professor of Viola and Conductor of the Chamber Orchestra at the Norwegian State Academy of Music. His program included the Bach Gamba Sonata in G minoT, BWV 1029, the Britten Lachrymae, Elegy and Capriccio for Solo Viola by Norweigan composer Johan Kvandal, the Paganini Sonata per la Gran Viola, and the Brahms E,Flat Major Sonata. He was ably accompanied by pianist Haarvard Gimse and afterward played the Massenet Meditation from ThaIs as an encore, which I must say sounds more beautiful on the viola. Mr. Tomter said that he has recorded the Brahms Sonatas for Virgin Classics. Keep your eyes open for this recording, because his recital was fantastic!

Vienna Viola Congress The 1992 International Viola Congress will take place 25,28 June 1992 at the Hochschule fur Musik in Vienna, Austria. For further information, contact the IVS President Ginter Ojstersek, Fritz,von,Willestr. 17, W,4QOO, Dusseldorf, Germany.

Windy City Viola News Events for Bratsche lovers have been

plentiful here in Chicagoland since February (1991). Over the last year, this area has had many wonderful masterclasses given by topnotch musicians, and it has really been to everyone's benefit, both young and old. Special mention and appreciation should be given to those teachers who have shared their time and knowledge. On March 23rd Rami Solomonow, Professor of Viola at DePaul University and Principal Violist of the Lyric Opera Orchestra, gave a masterclass at Illinois State University at Normal. Students from the Wisconsin and Illinois area were invited to perform and watch. The day after, also in Normal, Mr. Solomonow was involved in playing Mozart's C Major Viola Quintet and the Kegelstadt Trio. Upcoming events involving Rami Solomonow are on January 25 when he will appear with Concertante di Chicago playing Hindemith's Travennusik, April 10, when he will be giving a faculty recital at DePaul University, and May 17 when, with the Highland Park Strings, he will play the Britten Lachrymae and the Telemann Viola Concerto. Bein and Fushi continue to hold well, attended lectures and masterclasses at their premises on Michigan Avenue. They are attempting to have at least one such event every month. Yizhak Schotten taught a masterclass on April 20 and also Donald McInnes came back for the second time this year to hold a class on November 20. Over the summer, Peter Slowik (Professor of Viola at Northwestern University) held his

-Stephen Moore is a student at Northwestern University and studies with Robert Swan.

First Biannual Midwest Viola Day

A day of reci tals and masterclasses featuring many of the Midwest's leading violists and viola instructors including: Arar Arad, Richard Ferrin, Matthew Michelic, Anne Mishakoff, Charles Pikler, William Preucil, William Schoen, Peter Slowik, Rami Solomonow,