JAVS Spring 2022

Chamber Music

An Interview with Christian Colberg Principal Viola, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra by Dwight Pounds, PhD

Competition, and he was a featured artist in the 2018 AVS Festival and Primrose Competition this past spring in Los Angeles. In October 2018 he premiered his latest viola concerto with the CSO and recently suffered a subdural hematoma, both of which we look forward to discussing.

INTRODUCTION Eight months ago, Christian Colberg thought he might die. The principal violist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra was rushed to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in February with a frightening subdural hematoma caused by bleeding between his skull and his brain. He was in Baltimore with a friend rehearsing a piece for two violas that he had composed, when “the whole world just turned around… I remember thinking, if I die now, I’m OK with it. I was happy with my life. I just wish I had a little bit more time to enjoy my life,” said Colberg, 49. After two hospitalizations, Colberg recovered, unscathed. He married love-of-his-life CSO flutist Amy Taylor right after being discharged, while still wearing his hospital gown. The following week, Colberg performed his own viola concerto, Don Quixote , with the Cincinnati Symphony.

Christian, welcome to this table and consenting to this interview.

Granted, the internet has a wealth of information regarding your background and some references to these will be listed at the conclusion of this interview, but nevertheless, would you mind sharing a quick summary of your training and career, beginning perhaps with your early instruction? CC: I started my musical training in Puerto Rico at the same time that Pablo Casals was opening his music school for young string players. My first audition was for Casals and Alexander Schneider to see if a five-year-old violinist was good enough to join the new music school. CC: I was accepted and remained with this program until graduation seven years later, at which time I joined the Puerto Rico Conservatory. I was twelve years old at the time. Although I passed the exam and audition to enter the Conservatory, the administration thought I was too young to start a bachelor’s degree. They made something up for me as far as classes goes and when I was 14, they finally accepted me into the Bachelor Program. DP: I have to presume that you were accepted.

DP : Today, it is my good fortune to be visiting with Christian Colberg, Principal Violist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra ( Louise D. & Louis Nippert Chair ). The

Photo courtesy of Dwight Pounds

Puerto Rico native is by no means a newcomer to the AVS scene—his concerto was selected as a competition piece for the 2014 Primrose International Viola

DP: With whom did you study at the conservatory?

Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 38, No. 1, Spring 2022

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