Violist
Encyclopedia
Notable violists
A- Julia Rebekka AdlerJulia Rebekka AdlerViola player Julia Rebekka Adler, née Mai, was born 1978 in Heidelberg, Germany. In 2004 she was rated best German violist in the ARD International Music Competition, receiving the Theodor Rogler Prize...
(b.1978) - Sir Hugh AllenHugh Allen (conductor)Sir Hugh Percy Allen was an English musician, academic and administrator. He was a leading influence on British musical life in the first half of the 20th century.-Early years:...
(1869–1946), conductor - Kris AllenKris AllenKristopher Neil "Kris" Allen is an American musician and singer-songwriter from Conway, Arkansas, and the winner of the eighth season of American Idol...
(b.1985) - Johann Andreas AmonJohann Andreas AmonJohann Andreas Amon was a German virtuoso horn player, violist, conductor and composer. Amon composed around fifty works, including symphonies, concerti, sonatas, and songs...
(1763–1825) - Paul AngererPaul AngererPaul Angerer is an Austrian violist, conductor and composer.- Life :Angerer studied music theory and composition with Friedrich Reidinger and Alfred Uhl, and conducting with Hans Swarowsky...
(b.1927), composer - Steven AnsellSteven AnsellSteven A. Ansell , is an American violist whose versatile career involves work as a chamber musician, solo artist, and orchestral musician. Ansell is currently principal violist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held since September 1996. Prior to his appointment, Ansell had...
(b.1954) - Atar AradAtar AradAtar Arad is an Israeli American violist, professor of music, essayist and composer.He has performed in top venues around the world both as a featured soloist with orchestras in and as a member of the distinguished Cleveland Quartet from 1980 to 1987, taking the seat previously established by...
(b.1945) - Cecil AronowitzCecil AronowitzCecil Aronowitz was a British viola player, a founding member of the Melos Ensemble, a leading chamber musician and an influential teacher at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music.-Biography:...
(1916–1978) - Dino AsciollaDino AsciollaEdoardo Asciolla was an Italian violin and viola solo player...
(1920–1994) - Jean-Marie AubersonJean-Marie AubersonJean-Marie Auberson was a Swiss conductor and violinist, student of Ernest Ansermet and Carl Schuricht.He was born in Chavornay, Vaud canton, Switzerland and died in Draguignan, Var, France....
(1920–2004), violinist, conductor
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- Johann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
(1685–1750), composer - Sigismund BachrichSigismund BachrichSigismund Bachrich , aka Sigmund Bachrich or Siegmund Bachrich, was a Hungarian composer, violinist, and violist....
(1841–1913), composer, violinist - August BaeyensAugust BaeyensAugust Louis Baeyens was a Belgian violist and composer.Baeyens studied viola, harmony and counterpoint with Napoleon Distelmans and August de Boeck at the Flemish Conservatory in Antwerp receiving a first prize in viola in 1916...
(1895–1966), composer - Vladimir BakaleinikovVladimir BakaleinikovVladimir Romanovich Bakaleinikov, also Bakaleynikov and Bakaleinikoff was a Russian-American violist, music educator, conductor and composer.Bakaleinikov, the son of a noted clarinetist, was from a large musical family who lived in poverty...
(1885–1953), conductor, composer - Michael BallingMichael BallingMichael Balling was an German violist and conductor. He served as principal conductor of The Hallé, Manchester, England from 1912 to 1914....
(1866–1925), conductor - Alain BancquartAlain BancquartAlain Bancquart is a French composer. He had his musical formation at the "Conservatoire national supérieur de musique de Paris" with Darius Milhaud. He was a violist with the Orchestre National de France until 1973...
(b.1934) - Rudolf BarshaiRudolf BarshaiRudolf Borisovich Barshai was a Soviet/Russian conductor and violist.Barshai was born in Stanitsa Lobinskaya, Krasnodar Krai, and studied at the Moscow Conservatory under Lev Tseitlin and Vadim Borisovsky. He performed as a soloist as well as together with Sviatoslav Richter, David Oistrakh, and...
(1924–2010), conductor - Yuri BashmetYuri BashmetYuri Abramovich Bashmet is a Russian conductor and violist.Direct patrilineal descendant of Besht.-Biography:Yuri Bashmet was born on 24 January 1953 in Rostov-on-Don in the family of Abram Borisovich Bashmet and Maya Zinovyeva Bashmet . "Father's mother, Tsilya Efimovna, studied singing at the...
(b.1953) - Cathy BasrakCathy BasrakCathy Basrak is one of the most prominent young violists today. She was a winner of several important viola competitions such as the 1995 Primrose International Viola Competition, Irving M. Klein Competition, and others. Basrak studied with Michael Tree, Joseph de Pasquale, and Roland and Almita...
(b.1977) - Natalie Bauer-LechnerNatalie Bauer-LechnerNatalie Bauer-Lechner was a viola-player who is best known to musicology for having been a close and devoted friend of Gustav Mahler in the period between the break-up of her marriage in 1890 and the start of his to Alma Schindler in 1902...
(1858–1921) - Ludwig van BeethovenLudwig van BeethovenLudwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
(1770–1827), composer - Sviatoslav BelonogovSviatoslav BelonogovSviatoslav Belonogov is a Russian violist who is active in Tenerife, where he is mainly the Orquesta Sinfónica de Tenerife's viola soloist. He is also a viola d'amore player....
- Mitrofan BelyayevMitrofan BelyayevMitrofan Petrovich Belyayev was a Russian music publisher, outstanding philanthropist, and the owner of a large wood dealership enterprise in Russia. He was also the founder of the Belyayev circle, a society of musicians in Russia whose members included Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Alexander Glazunov...
(1836–1904) - František BendaFranz BendaFranz Benda was a Czech violinist and composer. He was the brother of Jiří Antonín Benda, and he worked for much of his life at the court of Frederick the Great....
(1709–1786), composer - Jiří Antonín BendaGeorg BendaJiří Antonín Benda, also Georg Anton Benda or J.A. Benda was a Czech kapellmeister, violinist and composer of the classical period.-Biography:...
(1722–1795), composer - Daniel BenyaminiDaniel BenyaminiDaniel Benyamini was an Israeli violist, who studied at the Shulamit Conservatory.He served as the Israel Philharmonic's principal violist , a chair he also held at the Orchestre de Paris under Daniel Barenboim...
(1925–1993) - Wilhelm Georg BergerWilhelm Georg BergerWilhelm Georg Berger was a Romanian composer, musicologist, violist and conductor.-Biography:...
(1929–1993), composer - Yehonatan BerickYehonatan BerickYehonatan Berick is a violin and viola virtuoso and pedagogue.Born in Israel, he started his musical education at the age of six. His principal violin teachers were Ilona Feher, Henry Meyer, Kurt Sassmanshauss, and Dorothy Delay...
(b.1968), violinist - Mikhail BezverkhnyMikhail BezverkhnyMikhail Lvovich Bezverkhny is a Russian violinist, violist and composer.-Life and career:Born in Saint Petersburg in 1947, Bezverkhny commenced his violin studies at the age of 5 at the Central Music School of the Conservatory of Saint Petersburg. He was a student of Liubov Segal and Jacob...
(b.1947), violinist - Franz Beyer (b.1922)
- Herbert BlendingerHerbert BlendingerHerbert Blendinger is an Austrian composer and viola player of German origin.-Professional career:Blendinger studied viola and composition with Willy Horwath and Max Gebhard at the conservatory in Nuremberg, then from 1961 to 1963 at the Musikhochschule München with Georg Schmid and Franz Xaver...
(b.1936), composer - Alexandre Pierre François BoëlyAlexandre Pierre François BoëlyAlexandre Pierre François Boëly was a French composer, organist, and pianist. Born into a family of musicians, Boëly received his first music lessons from his father, Jean François, who was a countertenor at the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris and a composer and harp teacher at the court of Versailles...
(1785–1858) - Emil BohnkeEmil BohnkeEmil Bohnke was a German violist, composer and conductor in Berlin.-Life:Emil Bohnke was the son of textile manufacturer Ferdinand Bohnke...
(1888–1928), composer, conductor - Vadim BorisovskyVadim BorisovskyVadim Vasilyevich Borisovsky was a Russian violist.Born in Moscow, Borisovsky entered Moscow Conservatory in 1917 studying the violin with Mikhail Press. A year later, on the advice of violist Vladimir Bakaleinikov, Borisovsky turned his attentions to the viola. He studied with Bakaleinikov and...
(1900–1972) - York BowenYork BowenEdwin York Bowen was an English composer and pianist. Bowen’s musical career spanned more than fifty years during which time he wrote over 160 works. As well as being a pianist and composer, Bowen was a talented conductor, organist, violist and horn player...
(1884–1961), composer, pianist - Máximo Arrates BozaMáximo Arrates BozaMáximo Arrates Boza was a Panamanian composer. He also played viola in the national symphony orchestra, and was a professor at the Conservatorio de Música y Declamación de Panamá.-References:...
(1859–1936), composer - Frank BridgeFrank BridgeFrank Bridge was an English composer and violist.-Life:Bridge was born in Brighton and studied at the Royal College of Music in London from 1899 to 1903 under Charles Villiers Stanford and others...
(1879–1941), composer - Benjamin BrittenBenjamin BrittenEdward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
(1913–1976), composer - Sheila BrowneSheila BrowneSheila Browne is an American-Irish violist, recording artist, and professor at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and New York University, Steinhardt School. Ms. Browne has given solo and chamber music concerts in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East...
(b.1971) - František BrožFrantišek BrožFrantišek Brož was a Czech violist, composer, conductor and music educator.-Biography:Brož studied violin at the Prague Conservatory with Jindřich Baštař. He later studied composition with Josef Bohuslav Foerster and Vítězslav Novák, and conducting under Otakar Ostrčil and Václav Talich...
(1896–1962), composer - Gerard von Brucken FockGerard von Brucken FockGerard von Brucken Fock, born Gerardus Hubertus Galenus von Brucken Fock in Koudekerke, on 28 December 1859 and died on 15 August 1935 in Aerdenhout, Netherlands, was a nineteenth-century classical Dutch piano player who gave up his career as a performer to compose and paint..Constantly torn...
(1859–1935), composer - Bjarne BrustadBjarne BrustadBjarne Brustad was a Norwegian composer, violinist and violist. He played with symphonic orchestras in Stavanger and Oslo. In the 1920s he travelled to European cities such as Paris, Munich and Berlin, where he received musical inspiration and contacts...
(1895–1978), composer, violinist - Peter BucknellPeter BucknellPeter Wentworth Bucknell is an Australian-born classical violist and filmmaker residing in Manhattan in the United States.-Performance:...
(b.1977)
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- John CaleJohn CaleJohn Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
(b.1942) - Helen CallusHelen CallusHelen Callus is a British violist who currently teaches at the University of California, Santa Barbara.Callus studied with Ian Jewel at the Royal Academy of Music in London, earning an Honorary ARAM . She then continued her studies at the Peabody Conservatory, where she served as the teaching...
- Bartolomeo CampagnoliBartolomeo CampagnoliBartolomeo Campagnoli was an Italian violinist and composer. Campagnoli was born at Cento and died at Neustrelitz....
(1751–1827), composer, violinist - David Aaron CarpenterDavid Aaron CarpenterDavid Aaron Carpenter is a US-American violist and was the first Prize Winner of the 2006 Walter E. Naumburg Viola Competition. In June 2007, David was selected as the new Music Protégé in the , sponsored by Rolex...
(b.1986) - Henri CasadesusHenri CasadesusHenri Casadesus was a violist and music publisher. He was the brother of Marius Casadesus, uncle of the famous pianist Robert Casadesus, and granduncle of Jean Casadesus....
(1879–1947) - Gérard CausséGérard CausséGérard Caussé is a violist.He gave the first performance of the celebrated Ainsi la nuit quartet by Henri Dutilleux. The first movement of Gérard Grisey's celebrated work, Les Espaces Acoustiques , is inscribed "à Gérard Caussé." His discography amounts to thirty recordings...
(b.1948) - Eugenio CavalliniEugenio CavalliniEugenio Cavallini was an Italian conductor, composer, violinist, and violist. In 1833 he became first violinist of the orchestra at La Scala, a post he held through 1855...
(1806–1881), violinist, conductor - Ladislav ČernýLadislav ČernýLadislav Černý was a Czech violist and teacher.- Biography :Černý studied violin at the Prague Conservatory with Ferdinand Lachner and Jindřich Bastař, and chamber music with František Spilka...
(1891–1975) - Eugène ChartierEugène ChartierEugène Chartier was a Canadian violinist, violist, conductor, and teacher.Born in Montreal, Chartier studied the violin with Alfred De Sève and Oscar Martel. He played second violin with the Dubois String Quartet from 1915-20, and viola with the Chamberland String Quartet from 1920-25...
(1893–1963), violinist, conductor - Roger ChaseRoger ChaseRoger Chase is a British violist who currently teaches at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University....
(b.1953) - Rebecca ClarkeRebecca Helferich ClarkeRebecca Clarke was an English classical composer and violist best known for her chamber music featuring the viola. She was born in Harrow and studied at the Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Music in London, later becoming one of the first female professional orchestral players...
(1886–1979), composer - Eric CoatesEric CoatesEric Coates was an English composer of light music and a viola player.-Life:Eric was born in Hucknall in Nottinghamshire to William Harrison Coates , a surgeon, and his wife, Mary Jane Gwynne, hailing from Usk in Monmouthshire...
(1886–1957), composer - Paul ColettiPaul ColettiPaul Coletti is a prominent viola soloist and chamber musician. He has performed throughout the world, making solo appearances at the Sydney Opera House, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Teatro Colón . He has performed Béla Bartók´s Viola Concerto with Yehudi Menuhin conducting...
(b.1959) - Serge CollotSerge CollotSerge Collot is a French violist and music educator.-Biography:Collot studied viola at the Conservatoire de Paris with Maurice Vieux, chamber music with Joseph Calvet, and composition with Maurice Hewitt and Arthur Honegger...
(b.1923) - Carlton CooleyCarlton CooleySamuel Carlton Cooley was an American violist and composer.-Biography:...
(1898–1981), composer - Wayne CrouseWayne CrouseWayne Crouse was the viola professor emeritus at the University of Oklahoma and principal violist of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic from 1982 until his death from cancer at the age of 75. Wayne Crouse graduated from the Juilliard School in 1951 where he studied with Milton Katims, Ivan Galamian,...
(1924–2000)
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- Steven DannSteven DannSteven Dann is a Canadian violist, based in the United States.-Early years:Dann was born in Burnaby, British Columbia. He played the violin until 1970, when he switched to the viola. He began studying with Lorand Fenyves in Toronto in 1972, and continued his studies until he graduated from the...
(b.1953) - Gyula DávidGyula DávidGyula Dávid was a Hungarian violist and composer.Dávid studied composition with Zoltán Kodály at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music...
(1913–1977) - Tania DavisTania DavisTania Davis is the first violinist of the British/Australian classical crossover string quartet Bond. Originally the violist of the quartet, she became the first violinist of the group in 2008 when its original first violinist Haylie Ecker left the group. Elspeth Hanson subsequently joined the...
(b.1975) - Brett DeanBrett DeanBrett Dean is a contemporary Australian composer, violist and conductor.-Career:Dean studied at the Queensland Conservatorium where he received a Medal of Excellence. From 1985 to 1999, Dean was a violist in the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2000, he decided to pursue a career as a freelance...
(b.1961) - Jack DelanoJack DelanoJack Delano was an American photographer for the Farm Security Administration and a composer noted for his use of Puerto Rican folk material.- Biography :...
(1914–1997), composer - Alan de VeritchAlan de VeritchAlan de Veritch is an American violist who has made a name for himself as a soloist, pedagogue, recording artist, and orchestral musician....
(b.1947) - Roberto Díaz (b.1960)
- Viacheslav DinerchteinViacheslav DinerchteinViacheslav Dinerchtein , is a prominent violist, and an avid promoter of both novel and overlooked viola repertoire. His performances as a recitalist and a chamber musician have taken him to the prestigious venues, such as the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Palacio de Bellas Artes...
(b.1976) - Napoleon DistelmansNapoleon DistelmansNapoleon Distelmans was a Flemish violist with the Antwerp Conservatory in the early 1900s.Distelmans's father was a shoemaker who dreamed of training his children to be musicians. Distelmans's mother died while giving birth to her sixth child, and the children's father raised them to play in a...
(1884–1946) - Paul DoktorPaul DoktorPaul Doktor was a notable violist and orchestra conductor.The son of singer-pianist Georgine and violist Karl Doktor, at the age of five, Paul began violin studies with his father, and received his diploma from the State Academy of Music in 1938...
(1919–1989) - Demetrius Constantine DounisDemetrius Constantine DounisDemetrius Constantine Dounis , also known as D. C. Dounis , was an influential teacher of violin and string instrument technique, as well as violinist, violist, and mandolin player.-Life and work:...
(1886–1954), violinist, pedagogue - Dimitris DragatakisDimitris DragatakisDimitris Dragatakis was a Greek composer of classical music.He was born in Platanousa, Epirus in 1914 and studied the violin from 1930 to 1939 at the Greek National Conservatory in Athens...
(1914–2001), composer - Karen DreyfusKaren DreyfusKaren Dreyfus is world-renowned violist who currently teaches at the Manhattan School of Music. Ms. Dreyfus has distinguished herself as a recipient of many prizes, including the Naumburg Viola Competition , the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition , the Washington International...
- Fyodor DruzhininFyodor DruzhininFyodor Serafimovich Druzhinin, also Fedor, was a Russian violist, composer and music teacher.Druzhinin studied viola at the Moscow Central Music School with Nikolai Sokolov and at the Moscow Conservatory with Vadim Borisovsky . In 1957, he won first place at the All-Union Competition of...
(1932–2007) - Matthias DurstMatthias DurstMatthias Durst was an Austrian violinist, violist and composer.-Biography:Born in Vienna, he studied at the Vienna Conservatory with Georg Hellmesberger, Sr. and Joseph Böhm. He was a member of the Vienna Burgtheater. From 1841 he was appointed at the Vienna Court Orchestra. He was professor at...
(1815–1875), violinist, composer - Charles DutoitCharles DutoitCharles Édouard Dutoit, is a Swiss conductor, particularly noted for his interpretations of French and Russian 20th century music...
(b.1936), conductor - Lawrence DuttonLawrence DuttonLawrence Dutton is an American violist, and is currently a member of the Emerson String Quartet. He earned a Bachelor and Master's degree from the Juilliard School where he studied with Lillian Fuchs....
(b.1954) - Antonín DvořákAntonín DvorákAntonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer of late Romantic music, who employed the idioms of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák’s own style is sometimes called "romantic-classicist synthesis". His works include symphonic, choral and chamber music, concerti, operas and many...
(1841–1904), composer
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- Heinrich Wilhelm ErnstHeinrich Wilhelm ErnstHeinrich Wilhelm Ernst was a Moravian-Jewish violinist, violist and composer. Ernst was widely seen as the outstanding violinist of his time and one of Paganini's greatest successors....
(1814–1865), violinist - Sila EserSila EserSıla Eser is a Turkish violist. A seasoned performer as both a solo and chamber musician, Sila Eser was a prizewinner of the British Council String Competition 2000 and was awarded a full scholarship at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester UK where she studied with Roger...
(b.1979) - Emilie AutumnEmilie AutumnEmilie Autumn Liddell , better known by her stage name Emilie Autumn, is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and violinist. Autumn draws influence for her music—the style of which she has alternatively labeled as "Victoriandustrial" and glam rock—from plays, novels, and history, particularly the...
- Ernest van der EykenErnest van der EykenErnest Jozef Leo van der Eyken was a Belgian composer, conductor and violist.Van der Eyken received his first musical training at the age of five at the Music Academy in Sint-Truiden. At the age of seven he joined the music theory class of Karel Candael at the Royal Music Conservatory in Antwerp...
(1913–2010), composer, conductor
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- Ralph FarrisRalph FarrisRalph Farris is an American violist, violinist, composer, arranger, producer and conductor. He specializes in new music and is a founding member of the string quartet ETHEL....
(b.1970) - Watson ForbesWatson ForbesWatson Douglas Buchanan Forbes was a Scottish violist and classical music arranger...
(1909–1997) - Cecil ForsythCecil ForsythCecil Forsyth was an English composer and musicologist. He was born in Greenwich on November 30, 1870, and he died in New York on December 7, 1941. He studied at Edinburgh University and at the Royal College of Music , and played viola in various London Orchestras...
(1870–1941), composer - Lillian FuchsLillian FuchsLillian Fuchs , an American violist, teacher and composer, is considered to be among the finest instrumentalists of her time. She hailed from a musically talented family: her brothers, Joseph Fuchs, a violinist, and Harry Fuchs, a cellist, performed with her on numerous commercial recordings...
(1901–1995)
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- Grigori Gamburg (1900–1967), composer, conductor
- Carlo Maria GiuliniCarlo Maria GiuliniCarlo Maria Giulini was an Italian conductor.-Biography:Giulini was born in Barletta, Italy, to a father born in Lombardy and a mother born in Naples; but he was raised in Bolzano, which at the time of his birth was part of Austria...
(1914–2005), conductor - Bruno GiurannaBruno GiurannaBruno Giuranna is an Italian violist.According to Giuranna's website:"Bruno Giuranna, born in Milan, completed his musical studies at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome receiving his diploma in violin and viola...
(b.1933) - Roland GlasslRoland GlasslRoland Glassl is a professional German viola player. He has won the Lionel Tertis Competition as well as the International Competition in Vienna. Glassl hass collaborated with many leading artists, and is also a member of the Mandelring Quartet.-External references:*...
(b.1972) - Rosemary Glyde (1948–1994), composer
- Rivka GolaniRivka GolaniRivka Golani is an Israeli viola player.She has performed as soloist with orchestras including the Boston Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw, BBC Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, Hong Kong Symphony, Singapore Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, Tokyo Metropolitan,...
(b.1946) - Jonny GreenwoodJonny GreenwoodJonathan Richard Guy "Jonny" Greenwood is an English musician and composer, best known as a member of the English rock band Radiohead. Greenwood is a multi-instrumentalist, but serves mainly as lead guitarist and keyboard player. In addition to guitar and keyboard, he plays viola, harmonica,...
, lead guitarist of Radiohead - Ebbe Grims-landEbbe Grims-landEbbe Grims-land is a Swedish composer and viola player. He is also one of Sweden's foremost mandolin players. He was born in Malmö....
(b.1915)
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- Veronika HagenVeronika Hagen-Biography:Born in Salzburg, she began to learn music at the age of six with her father, who was at that time concertmaster of the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg. She then continued her studies at the Musik Hochschule of Salzburg with Professor Helmut Zehetmair and at the Musik Hochschule of...
(b.1963) - John HarbisonJohn HarbisonJohn Harris Harbison is an American composer, best known for his operas and large choral works.-Life:...
(b.1938), composer - Joseph HaydnJoseph HaydnFranz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
(1732–1809), composer - Donald HeinsDonald HeinsDonald Heins was a Canadian violinist, violist, conductor, organist, composer, and music educator of English birth. He notably founded the first professional orchestra in Ottawa, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra , in 1902, serving as its director until 1927...
(1878–1949), violinist, conductor, composer - Willy HessWilly Hess (violinist)Willy Hess was a German violin virtuoso and violin teacher.-Biography:Will Hess was born in Mannheim in 1859. He was a student of Joseph Joachim and he also studied with his father, who was a pupil of Louis Spohr....
(1859–1939), violinist - Raphael HillyerRaphael HillyerRaphael Hillyer was an American viola soloist, teacher. Born Raphael Silverman in Ithaca, New York, his career included playing in the Boston Symphony Orchestra and co-founding the Juilliard String Quartet...
(1914–2010) - Paul HindemithPaul HindemithPaul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.- Biography :Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child...
(1895–1963), composer - Alfred Charles HobdayAlfred Charles HobdayAlfred Charles Hobday was an English viola player who made his career in England. He was the elder brother of the double-bass player Claude Hobday....
(1870–1942) - Lorraine Hunt LiebersonLorraine Hunt LiebersonLorraine Hunt Lieberson was an American mezzo-soprano, known for the dramatic power of her vocal artistry as well as her commitment to performing infrequently-heard Baroque era and contemporary works...
(1954–2006), mezzo-soprano - Ketil HvoslefKetil HvoslefKetil Hvoslef is a Norwegian composer. He is the son of composer Harald Sæverud.Hvoslef studied viola and organ at the Bergen Music Conservatory graduating in 1962...
(b.1939)
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- Nobuko ImaiNobuko Imai, is a Japanese classical violist with an extensive career as soloist and chamber musician. Since 1988 she plays an Andrea Guarneri of 1690.-Biography:...
(b.1943) - Yuko InoueYuko Inoue, is a Japanese classical violist. She studied violin at Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo. In 1978, she went to study with violist Nobuko Imai at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England...
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- Leroy Jenkins (1932–2007)
- Otto Joachim (1910–2010), composer
- Matthew JonesMatthew Jones (classical musician)Matthew Jones is a British violist, violinist and composer primarily known for his international performance work as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. He also holds two music Professorships and runs an in-demand performance health consultancy practice. He is fluent in Italian.- Biography...
(b.1974), violinist
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- Thomas KakuskaThomas KakuskaThomas Kakuska was an Austrian viola player, best known as the violist of the Alban Berg Quartett from 1981 until his death in Vienna in 2005....
(1940–2005) - Stefan Kamasa (b.1930)
- Jurgis Karnavičius (1884–1941), composer
- Gilad KarniGilad KarniGilad Karni is an Israeli violist who has played in the New York Philharmonic and is currently principal viola in the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich as well as a soloist and player in chamber ensembles...
- Kim KashkashianKim KashkashianKim Kashkashian is an Armenian-American violist.-Professional career:Kim Kashkashian studied the viola with Karen Tuttle. She also studied at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. She won the 2nd prize at the 1980 Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition and the 1980 ARD International Music...
(b.1952) - Milton KatimsMilton KatimsMilton Katims was an American violist and conductor. He was music director of the Seattle Symphony for 22 years . In that time he added more than 75 works, made recordings, premiered new pieces and led the orchestra on several tours. He expanded the orchestra's series of family and suburban...
(1909–2006), conductor - Martha Strongin KatzMartha Strongin KatzMartha Strongin Katz is a violist and member of the faculty of the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where she teaches viola and chamber music...
(b.1942) - Hugo KauderHugo KauderHugo Kauder was a mid-century Austrian composer, pedagogue, and music theorist who was born in Tovačov , Moravia . He defied the atonal trend of his generation with his uniquely harmonic, contrapuntal style...
(1888–1972), composer, violinist - Nigel KeayNigel KeayNigel Keay was born in Palmerston North, New Zealand in 1955. He has been a freelance musician since 1983 working as a composer, violist, and violin teacher...
(b.1955), composer - Nigel KennedyNigel KennedyNigel Kennedy is a British born violinist and violist. He made his early career in the classical field, and he has performed and recorded most of the major violin concerti...
(b.1956), violinist - Volker David KirchnerVolker David KirchnerVolker David Kirchner is a German composer and violist.-Biography:Kirchner studied at the Peter Cornelius Conservatory in Mainz from 1956 to 1969 under Günter Kehr and Günter Raphael...
(b.1942), composer - Dmitri Klebanov (1907–1987)
- Paul KlengelPaul KlengelPaul Klengel was a German violinist, violist, pianist, conductor, composer, editor and arranger. He was the brother of cellist Julius Klengel....
(1854–1935), violinist, pianist - Michael KlotzMichael KlotzMichael Klotz is a violist in the Amernet String Quartet.Klotz is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music where he was awarded the Performer's Certificate...
(b.1978) - Garth KnoxGarth KnoxGarth Knox, is a violist specialized in contemporary classical music, and new music.-Biography:Knox was the youngest of four siblings, and although he was born in Ireland, he was raised in Scotland, to a family who all played a variety of musical instruments...
(b.1956) - František Kočvara (1730–1791), composer
- Tosca KramerTosca KramerDr. Tosca Berger Kramer , was a New Zealand-born American violinist and violist. Kramer, along with her parents, was instrumental in bringing classical music performance and instruction to the state of Oklahoma....
(1903–1976) - Alison KraussAlison KraussAlison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in...
- Emil KreuzEmil KreuzEmil Anton Joseph Friedrich Kreuz, also known as Emil Frederick Thornfield, was a German violinist, violist, teacher, conductor and composer.-Biography:...
(1867–1932) - Ferdinand KüchlerFerdinand KüchlerFerdinand Küchler was a German violinist and violist, renowned violin pedagogue, and composer of instructive violin music.-Life and work:...
(1867–1937), violinist, composer - Tomasz Kukurba (b.1969)
- Michael KugelMichael Kugel-Biography:Born in Kharkov, USSR, he studied at the Beethoven School of Music, at the Music College in Kharkov and later at the Leningrad Conservatory....
(b.1946)
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- Michelle LaCourseMichelle LaCourseMichelle LaCourse is a viola player and string department chair on the faculty of the Boston University College of Fine Arts.-Education:LaCourse began her musical studies in the Traverse City School System. She has studied with David Holland at the Interlochen Arts Academy, Robert Swan at...
- Théophile LaforgeThéophile LaforgeThéophile Édouard Laforge was a French violist and first professor of viola at the Conservatoire de Paris....
(1863–1918) - Édouard LaloÉdouard LaloÉdouard-Victoire-Antoine Lalo was a French composer.-Biography:Lalo was born in Lille , in northernmost France. He attended that city's music conservatory in his youth. Then, beginning at age 16, Lalo studied at the Paris Conservatoire under Berlioz's old enemy François Antoine Habeneck...
(1823–1892), composer - Jaime LaredoJaime LaredoJaime Laredo is a violinist and conductor. Currently the conductor and Music Director of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, he began his musical career when he was five years old. In 1948 he came to North America and took lessons from Antonio DeGrass...
(b.1941), violinist - Steve LarsonSteve LarsonSteve Larson is the former lead guitarist for Lime Green, Dead Hot Workshop , Dialectrics, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers , and now plays in his own band, Steve Larson Band....
- Victor Legley (1915–1994), composer
- Harold LevinHarold LevinHarold Levin is an American violist, composer, and conductor.An Interlochen Arts graduate, Levin holds a BS from Ball State University, a MM from the University of Cincinnati, and a DMA from Rutgers University....
(b.1956) - Avri LevitanAvri LevitanAvri Levitan is an Israeli violist based in Berlin.He is the 2009 BBC Music Magazine Awards Nominee, and recently toured with the Nordic Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Anu Tali, performing Max Bruch's Kol Nidrei at the Vienna Konzerthaus Großer Saal.His future engagements include playing...
(b.1973) - Jodi LevitzJodi LevitzJodi Levitz is an American viola player and academic. She has performed throughout Europe, South America, the USA, and the Far East as a solo violist and has recorded works for the viola on several record labels including Erato Records...
- Ingvar LidholmIngvar LidholmIngvar Natanael Lidholm is a Swedish composer.Ingvar Lidholm was born in Jönköping. He was a pupil of Hilding Rosenberg from 1943 to 1945, becoming a viola player with the Royal Swedish Opera Orchestra. Having been awarded the Jenny Lind Fellowship for 1946–7, he travelled to France, Switzerland...
(b.1921), composer - Lim Soon LeeLim Soon LeeLim Soon Lee is a Singaporean conductor and violist.-Education:Soon Lee began his piano and violin training at a young age, under the tutelage of Goh Soon Tioe, Tan Kah Chin, Tan Kian Seng, Moses Wang, and Vivien Goh....
(b.1957), conductor - Ernest LlewellynErnest LlewellynErnest Victor Llewellyn CBE was an Australian violinist, concertmaster, violist, conductor and musical administrator. He was the founding director of the Canberra School of Music and he is commemorated in the concert venue there, Llewellyn Hall.-Early career:Ernest Llewellyn was born in Kurri...
(1915–1982), violinist, conductor - James LoweJames Lowe (Conductor)James Lowe is a British conductor and violist.As well as holding various assistant conducting posts and holding the post of Associate Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra between 2004 and 2007 he is the current artistic director of the New Bristol Sinfonia and of the West of Scotland...
(b.1976), conductor - Pál LukácsPál LukácsPál Lukács was a Hungarian viola virtuoso, concert and recording artist, and music educator.Lukács studied voice, and also violin with Imre Waldbauer at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. He switched to viola in 1935 after hearing a viola performance by Lionel Tertis accompanied by...
(1919–1981)
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- Jef MaesJef MaesJef "Joseph" Maes was a Belgian composer and violist.Encouraged by his friend, André Cluytens, he completed his study at the Flämi conservatory in Antwerp...
(1905–1996), composer - Mat ManeriMat ManeriMat Maneri, born on October 4, 1969 in Brooklyn, New York is an American composer, improviser and jazz violin and viola player, specifically derivatives such as the five-string viola, the electric six-string violin, and the baritone violin...
(b.1969), composer, violinist - Michael Mann (1919–1977), violinist
- Jethro MarksJethro MarksJethro Marks is a Canadian/American classical violist. He is the founding violist of the Zukerman Chamber Players and the Associate Principal Violist of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa....
- Uri MayerUri MayerUri Mayer is Romanian-born Canadian violist and conductor.Mayer moved to Israel at a young age, and studied at the Conservatory of Music of Tel-Aviv and the University of Tel-Aviv...
(b.1946), conductor - Eduard MelkusEduard MelkusEduard Melkus is an Austrian violinist and violist.Following the Second World War, Melkus dedicated himself to the exploration of historically informed performance...
(b.1928), violinist - Felix MendelssohnFelix MendelssohnJakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
(1809–1847), composer - Yehudi MenuhinYehudi MenuhinYehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE was a Russian Jewish American violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom. He was born to Russian Jewish parents in the United States, but became a citizen of Switzerland in 1970, and of the United Kingdom in 1985...
(1916–1999), violinist - John Metcalfe (b.1964)
- Miroslav MiletićMiroslav Miletic-Education:Born in Sisak, Croatia, Miletić graduated violin from the Zagreb Academy of Music in 1953, in the class of Prof. Stjepan Šulek and I. Pinkava, and chamber music in the class of Antonio Janigro...
(b.1925), composer - Shlomo MintzShlomo MintzShlomo Mintz is an Israeli violin virtuoso, violist and conductor. He regularly appears with orchestras and conductors on the international scene and is heard in recitals and chamber music concerts around the world.- Awards :...
(b.1957), violinist - Alexander MishnaevskiAlexander MishnaevskiAlexander Mishnaevski is a Russian-born American violist, the principal violist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Born in Moscow, he began violin lessons in his early childhood, when his father was principal violist with the local orchestra...
- Roberto MolinelliRoberto MolinelliRoberto Molinelli is an Italian composer, conductor and violist.- Biography :He has graduated with honors and won prizes in national and international competitions....
(b.1963), composer, conductor - Pierre MonteuxPierre MonteuxPierre Monteux was an orchestra conductor. Born in Paris, France, Monteux later became an American citizen.-Life and career:Monteux was born in Paris in 1875. His family was descended from Sephardi Jews who came to France in the wake of the Spanish Inquisition. He studied violin from an early age,...
(1875–1964), conductor - Arie Van de MoortelArie Van de MoortelArie Van de Moortel was a Belgian viola virtuoso, composer and music teacher.Van de Moortel studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels receiving first prize in viola and chamber music in 1937. He continued his studies on viola with François Broos receiving a further degree in 1939...
(1918–1976), composer - Wolfgang Amadeus MozartWolfgang Amadeus MozartWolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
(1756–1791), composer - Pedro Saglimbeni MuñozPedro Saglimbeni MuñozPedro Armando Saglimbeni Muñoz is the first solo viola at Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa and solo in important orchestras as the Sinfónica de Colombia, Nacional de Panamá, Orchestre Philharmonique Rhodanien, Sinfónica Portuguesa, Nacional do Porto and Orquestra do Norte.He is also Professor of...
- Henry MyerscoughHenry MyerscoughHenry Myerscough was a British violist.In addition to solo work and teaching, he formed the Fidelio Quartet with his brother, the violinist Clarence Myerscough, and performed for many years as a session musician, including The Beatles' "White" Album and Quatermass.He played a viola by luthier...
(? –2007)
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- Philipp NaegelePhilipp NaegelePhilipp Otto Naegele was a United States-based violinist, violist and scholar.He was born on January 22, 1928, the youngest son of the well-known painter Reinhold Naegele in Stuttgart, Germany...
(b.1928), violinist - Naruhito, Crown Prince of JapanNaruhito, Crown Prince of Japanis the eldest son of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, which makes him the heir apparent to the Chrysanthemum Throne of Japan.-Early life and education:...
(b.1960) - Oskar NedbalOskar NedbalOskar Nedbal was a Czech violist, composer, and conductor of classical music.-Life:Nedbal was born in Tábor, in southern Bohemia. He studied the violin at the Prague Conservatory under Antonín Bennewitz...
(1874–1930), composer - Paul NeubauerPaul NeubauerViolist Paul Neubauer was the youngest principal player for the New York Philharmonic at 21 years of age, and currently teaches at the Juilliard School, and Mannes College The New School for Music. He performs with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center...
(b.1962) - Václav NeumannVáclav NeumannVáclav Neumann was a Czech conductor, violinist and viola player.Neumann was born in Prague where he studied at the Prague Conservatory, with Josef Micka , and with Pavel Dědeček and Metod Doležil . He co-founded, and played 1st violin in, the Smetana Quartet, before holding conducting posts in...
(1920–1995), conductor - Casimir NeyCasimir NeyLouis-Casimir Escoffier, known primarily by the pseudonym Casimir Ney or L. Casimir-Ney, was a French composer and one of the foremost violists of the 19th century.-History:...
(1801–1877) - Nokuthula NgwenyamaNokuthula NgwenyamaNokuthula Ngwenyama is an American solo violist of Zimbabwean and Japanese descent. She is a recording artist under EDI Records, and has taught at the Jacob's School of Music at Indiana University.- Background :...
(b.1976)
O
- Heiichiro OhyamaHeiichiro Ohyamais a Japanese conductor and violist.He has a long-established reputation as a remarkable conductor and one of the nation’s most renowned violists. In addition to his post as Music Director and Conductor of the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, he is also the Principal Chief Conductor of Kyushu...
(b.1947) - David OistrakhDavid OistrakhDavid Fyodorovich Oistrakh , , David Fiodorović Ojstrakh, ; – October 24, 1974, was a Soviet violinist....
(1908–1974), violinist - Martin OutramMartin OutramMartin Outram is an English viola soloist and violist of the Maggini Quartet.-Biography:Martin Outram studied at Fitzwilliam College at Cambridge University and later at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Outram is the violist of the Maggini Quartet....
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- Niccolò PaganiniNiccolò PaganiniNiccolò Paganini was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. He was one of the most celebrated violin virtuosi of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique...
(1782–1840), composer, violinist - Una PalliserUna PalliserÚna Palliser is an Irish born, London based violinist, violist, singer and multi-instrumentalist who as well as being classically trained, is recognised for her proficiency in many musical genres, including rock, balkan, pop, and Irish folk...
violist, violinist - Ian ParrottIan ParrottIan Parrott , who retired from the Gregynog Chair of Music at Aberystwyth in 1983, is a prolific Anglo-Welsh composer and writer on music. His distinctions include the first prize of the Royal Philharmonic Society for his symphonic poem Luxor, and commissions by the BBC and Yale University, and for...
(b.1916), composer - Harry PartchHarry PartchHarry Partch was an American composer and instrument creator. He was one of the first twentieth-century composers to work extensively and systematically with microtonal scales, writing much of his music for custom-made instruments that he built himself, tuned in 11-limit just intonation.-Early...
(1901–1974), composer - Ödön PártosÖdön PártosÖdön Pártos [alternate English transcription: Oedeon Partos; Hungarian original: Pártos Ödön, Hebrew: עֵדֶן פרטוש ] , was a Hungarian-Israeli violist and composer...
(1907–1977), composer - Joseph de PasqualeJoseph de PasqualeJoseph de Pasquale is an American violist.Joseph de Pasquale was a student of Louis Bailly, Max Aronoff and William Primrose at the Curtis Institute of Music. He was the principal violist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1947 to 1964, and later the Philadelphia Orchestra...
(b.1919) - Clara Petrozzi-StubinClara Petrozzi-StubinClara Petrozzi is a Peruvian-born violinist, violist, musicologist and composer. She is presently based in Finland.-Biography:...
(b.1965), violinist, composer - Allan PetterssonAllan PetterssonGustav Allan Pettersson was a Swedish composer. Today he is considered one of the most important Swedish composers of the 20th century...
(1911–1980), composer - Cynthia PhelpsCynthia PhelpsCynthia Phelps is an American violist whose versatile career involves work as a chamber musician, solo artist, and orchestral musician. Phelps is currently the Principal Violist of the New York Philharmonic, a position to which she was appointed in 1992...
(b.1961) - Ashan PillaiAshan PillaiAshan Diresh Pillai is a British violist. He was educated as a music and academic scholar at Merchant Taylors School, London and then at the Royal Academy of Music, London, the University of Southern California, Los Angeles and the Juilliard School, New York City...
(b.1969) - Jocelyn PookJocelyn PookJocelyn Pook is a British composer, pianist and viola player.- Biography :Jocelyn Pook’s distinctive style is a product of her diverse experiences in classical, commercial, and so-called world music...
(b.1960), composer - Diemut PoppenDiemut PoppenDiemut Poppen began violin lessons at the age of seven, but changed to the viola having been exposed to it through playing chamber music...
- Ari PoutiainenAri PoutiainenAri Poutiainen is a Finnish contemporary jazz violinist, violist, composer, and researcher. He is famous for using a rare, hybrid 5-string viola beside violin, his main instrument. He often plucks either instrument with his fingers while holding it like a guitar...
(b.1972) - Lawrence PowerLawrence PowerLawrence Power is a British viola player, born 1977, noted both for solo performances and for chamber music with the Nash Ensemble and Leopold String Trio.-Career:...
(b.1977) - Milton PrevesMilton PrevesMilton Preves was a violist, conductor. He was a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 52 years, of which 47 years were as principal violist.He attended the University of Chicago...
(1909–2000) - William PrimroseWilliam PrimroseWilliam Primrose CBE was a Scottish violist and teacher.-Biography:Primrose was born in Glasgow and studied violin initially. In 1919 he moved to study at the then Guildhall School of Music in London. On the urging of the accompanist Ivor Newton, Primrose moved to Belgium to study under Eugène...
(1904–1982)
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- Karl Traugott QueisserKarl Traugott QueisserKarl Traugott Queisser played trombone and viola in Germany as a member of the Gewandhaus Orchestra under Felix Mendelssohn.He was Principal Viola of the Gewandhaus Orchestra from 1820 until 1843 where he also appeared as soloist on 27 occasions...
(1800–1846)
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- Julian RachlinJulian RachlinJulian Rachlin is a Lithuanian-born violinist and violist.-Background and early life:Born in Vilnius, he emigrated in 1978 with his musician parents to Austria. In 1983, he entered the Konservatorium Wien and studied violin in the Soviet tradition with Boris Kuschnir, while also receiving private...
(b.1974), violinist - Mary RamseyMary RamseyMary Ramsey , currently a resident of Buffalo, NY is a member of folk duo John & Mary and lead singer for alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs.- Biography :...
(b.1963), violinist, singer, songwriter - Adolf RebnerAdolf RebnerAdolf Franklin Rebner was an Austrian violinist and violist....
(1876–1967) - Ottorino RespighiOttorino RespighiOttorino Respighi was an Italian composer, musicologist and conductor. He is best known for his orchestral "Roman trilogy": Fountains of Rome ; Pines of Rome ; and Roman Festivals...
(1879–1936), composer - Frederick RiddleFrederick RiddleFrederick Riddle OBE was an important British violist. He was considered to be in the line from Lionel Tertis and William Primrose, through to the violists of today such as Lawrence Power.-Biography:...
(1912–1995) - Karen RitscherKaren RitscherKaren Ritscher is an American musician and academic.She is currently on faculty at the Oberlin Conservatory and has taught and performed extensively throughout the United States.Ms...
- Hermann RitterHermann RitterHermann Ritter was a German viola player, composer and music historian.-Biography:Hermann Ritter studied violin at the Neue Akademie für Musik in Berlin from 1865 to 1870...
(1849–1926) - Carol RodlandCarol RodlandCarol Rodland is an American viola player who studied with Karen Tuttle at the Juilliard school. She was Ms. Tuttle's teaching assistant for several years before taking a position as a viola teacher at the New England Conservatory. In February 2008, it was announced that Ms...
- Ernesto Rodrigues (b.1959), violinist, composer
- Jean RogisterJean RogisterJean François Toussaint Rogister was a Belgian virtuoso violist, teacher and composer.-Life and career:...
(1879–1964), composer - Alessandro RollaAlessandro RollaAlessandro Rolla was widely acknowledged in his time as a violin and, especially, viola virtuoso, composer and teacher. His contribution to technique, repertoire and history of music is greatly underestimated...
(1757–1841), composer - Antonio RollaAntonio RollaGiuseppe Antonio Rolla was an Italian violin and viola virtuoso and composer.Antonio Rolla studied violin with his father, composer Alessandro Rolla. In 1803 the family is moved to Milan where Antonio began to work at a young age...
(1798–1837), violinist, composer - Paul RollandPaul RollandPaul Rolland was a violist and an influential American violin teacher who concentrated on the pedagogy of teaching fundamentals to beginning string students. He was famous for emphasizing that the physical demands of most violin techniques can be taught in the first two years of violin education...
(1911–1977) - Max RostalMax RostalMax Rostal was a violinist and a viola player. He was Austrian-born, but later took British citizenship.-Biography:Max Rostal was born in Cieszyn and studied with Carl Flesch. He won the Mendelssohn Scholarship in 1925...
(1905–1991), violinist - Simon Rowland-JonesSimon Rowland-JonesSimon Rowland-Jones is a violist, composer, and music editor. He is best known for his arrangement of the Bach Cello Suites for Viola, which is widely praised as one of the best scholarly editions of the work for viola....
(b.1950) - Miklós RózsaMiklós RózsaMiklós Rózsa was a Hungarian-born composer trained in Germany , and active in France , England , and the United States , with extensive sojourns in Italy from 1953...
(1907–1995), composer - Thomas RyanThomas Ryan (musician)Thomas Ryan was an Irish-American musician.Born in Ireland, Ryan moved to the United States as a teenager in 1844, and pursued his studies in Boston. In 1849, he formed the Mendelssohn Quintette Club along with August Fries , Francis Riha , Eduard Lehmann , and Wulf Fries ; Ryan played viola and...
(1827–1903)
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- Luigi SagratiLuigi SagratiLuigi Sagrati was an Italian violist.He began studying the violin very young, and graduated cum laude from the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. In the immediate postwar period he began an intensive concert activity in Italy and abroad...
(1921–2008) - Philip SaintonPhilip SaintonPhilip Prosper Sainton was a British–French composer, conductor, and violist.-Biography:He was born in Arques-la-Bataille, in Seine-Maritime, France, grandson to violinist Prosper Sainton and contralto Charlotte Helen Sainton-Dolby. He started his music studies learning the violin...
(1891–1967), composer, conductor - Stephanie Sant'Ambrogio (b.1960), violinist
- Hermann ScherchenHermann ScherchenHermann Scherchen was a German conductor.-Life:Scherchen was originally a violist and played among the violas of the Bluthner Orchestra of Berlin while still in his teens...
(1891–1966), conductor - Peter SchidlofPeter SchidlofPeter Schidlof was an Austrian-British violist and co-founder of the Amadeus Quartet.-Life and career:Born in Vienna, Schidlof fled Austria for England following the Nazi Anschluss in 1938. He won a scholarship to Blundell's School in Devon...
(1922–1987) - Franz SchubertFranz SchubertFranz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
(1797–1828), composer - Joseph SchubertJoseph SchubertJoseph Schubert was a German composer, violinist, and violist.Joseph Schubert was born in Varnsdorf, Bohemia to a musical family. He received his early musical education from his father, who was a kantor, and then in Prague...
(1754–1837), composer, violinist - David SchwartzDavid Schwartz (violist)David Schwartz is an American violist and music instructor. Schwartz's career spanned orchestral music, chamber music, and studio recording, but he is most recognized for his chamber music performances and recordings with the Yale and Paganini Quartets.- Musical education :Schwartz studied viola...
(b.1916) - Albert SeitzAlbert SeitzAlbert Seitz was a French composer and viola player.Seitz was a violist with the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire from 1900 to 1932.-Selected works:...
(1872–1937), composer - Tibor SerlyTibor SerlyTibor Serly was a Hungarian violist, violinist and composer.He was one of the students of Zoltán Kodály. He greatly admired and became a young apprentice of Béla Bartók. His association with Bartók was for him both a blessing and a curse...
(1901–1978), composer - William ShieldWilliam ShieldWilliam Shield was an English composer, violinist and violist who was born in Swalwell near Gateshead, the son of William Shield and his wife, Mary, née Cash.-Life and musical career:...
(1748–1829) - Oscar ShumskyOscar ShumskyOscar Shumsky was an American violinist and conductor born to Russian-Jewish parents.-Biography:...
(1917–2000), violinist, conductor - Paul SilverthornePaul SilverthornePaul Silverthorne is an English viola soloist and principal violist of the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Sinfonietta.-Biography:...
(b.1951) - Hans SittHans SittJan Hanuš Sitt, known as Hans Sitt, , was a Bohemian-German violinist, violist, teacher, and composer. During his lifetime, he was regarded as one of the foremost teachers of violin...
(1850–1922) - Scott SlapinScott SlapinScott Slapins compositions have been performed by violists across the United States and Europe and at the Primrose, Tertis and ARD Competitions...
(b.1974) - Kay SlocumKay SlocumKay Brainerd Slocum is an American musician and historian, and has published books in music and medieval history. Slocum is currently the Gerhold Professor of History and Humanities at Capital University, Ohio, prior to which she taught music history and viola at Kent State University...
- Peter SlowikPeter SlowikPeter Slowik is a professor of viola and head of the string department at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he has earned the school's teaching award...
(b.1957) - Anton StamitzAnton StamitzAntonín Thadaeus Jan Nepomuk Stamic was a German composer and violinist.Anton and his brother Carl received their first violin instruction from their father, Johann. After their father's death in 1757 they were taken on as students by Christian Cannabich, who had been a student of their father's...
(1750–c.1800), composer - Carl StamitzCarl StamitzKarl Philipp Stamitz , who later changed his given name to Carl, was a German composer of partial Czech ancestry , and a violin, viola and viola d'amore virtuoso...
(1745–1801), composer - Johann StamitzJohann StamitzJan Václav Antonín Stamic was a Czech composer and violinist. Johann was the father of Carl Stamitz and Anton Stamitz, also composers...
(1717–1757), composer - Scott St. JohnScott St. JohnScott St. John is a Canadian violinist and violist. He is a member of the St. Lawrence String Quartet and on faculty at Stanford University, where he teaches violin and chamber music.-Biography:...
(b.1969) - Simon StreatfeildSimon StreatfeildSimon Streatfeild is a British-Canadian violist, conductor and teacher.Simon Nicholas Streatfeild was born in Windsor, Berkshire England in 1929. He studied viola with Frederick Riddle at the Royal College of Music from 1946 to 1950...
(b.1929), conductor - Jennifer StummJennifer Stumm-Life:Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, and a graduate of The Westminster Schools, Stumm studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where she was one of the last proteges of the viola pedagogue Karen Tuttle. She also studied astronomy and politics at the University of Pennsylvania,...
- Josef SukJosef Suk (violinist)Josef Suk was a Czech violinist, violist, chamber musician and conductor, the grandson of Josef Suk, the composer and violinist, and great-grandson of Antonín Dvořák. In his home country he carried the title of National Artist....
(b.1929), violinist - Jean SulemJean SulemJean Sulem is a French concert violist and teacher born in 1959. He has studied in the Paris Conservatoire with Serge Collot. He has played in the "Ensemble Contemporain" directed by Pierre Boulez. He is a founder member of the Rosamunde Quartet...
(b.1959) - Louis SvečenskiLouis SvečenskiLouis Svečenski was an American violist, violinist, and music educator of Croatian birth.Born in Osijek, Svečenski studied the viola at the Vienna Conservatory before moving to Boston, Massachusetts in 1885...
(1862–1926) - Gusztáv SzerémiGusztáv SzerémiGusztáv Szerémi was a Hungarian violinist, violist and composer.Szerémi was professor of violin and viola at the Royal National Hungarian Academy of Music in Budapest around the turn of the 20th century...
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- Václav TalichVáclav TalichVáclav Talich was a Czech conductor, violinist and pedagogue.- Life :Born in Kroměříž, Moravia, he started his musical career in a student orchestra in Klatovy. From 1897 to 1903 he studied at the conservatory in Prague with Otakar Ševčík...
(1883–1961), conductor, violinist - Antoine TamestitAntoine TamestitAntoine Tamestit is a French violist.Tamestit, who studied at the Paris Conservatory, has performed at such venues as the Royal Concertgebouw, the Vienna Musikverein, and Carnegie Hall...
(b.1979) - Anahit TsitsikianAnahit TsitsikianAnahit Tsitsikian was the first renowned Armenian woman-violinist who during the Soviet times toured around the world in more than 100 cities; a professor who taught at the State Conservatory in Yerevan for approximately 40 years; a journalist who wrote more than 300 articles, scenarios for...
(1926–1999), violinist, musicologist - Jan TausingerJan TausingerJan Tausinger was a Romania-born ethnic Czech violist, conductor and composer.-Biography:...
(1921–1980), composer, conductor - Yuri TemirkanovYuri TemirkanovYuri Khatuevich Temirkanov is a Russian conductor of Circassian origin.Yuri Temirkanov has been the Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic since 1988.-Early life:...
(b.1938), conductor - Lionel TertisLionel TertisLionel Tertis, CBE was an English violist and one of the first viola players to find international fame.Tertis was born in West Hartlepool, the son of Polish-Jewish immigrants, and initially studied the violin in Leipzig and at the Royal Academy of Music in London...
(1876–1975) - Marcus ThompsonMarcus ThompsonMarcus Thompson is a violist and viola d'amore player known for his work as a recitalist, orchestral soloist, chamber musician, recording artist and educator....
(b.1946) - Katia TiutiunnikKatia TiutiunnikKatia Tiutiunnik is an Australian violist, scholar and composer. She is of Russian, Ukrainian and Irish descent.-Education:...
(b.1967), composer - Giuseppe TorelliGiuseppe TorelliGiuseppe Torelli was an Italian violist, violinist, teacher, and composer.Torelli is most remembered for his contributions to the development of the instrumental concerto Giuseppe Torelli (April 22, 1658 – February 8, 1709) was an Italian violist, violinist, teacher, and composer.Torelli is most...
(1658–1709), pedagogue, composer - Walter TramplerWalter TramplerWalter Trampler was a German musician and teacher of the viola and viola d'amore.Born at Munich, he began to study music at the age of 6, learning from his father, a violinist. In his youth, he toured Europe performing as the violist of the Strub String Quartet...
(1915–1997) - Michael TreeMichael TreeMichael Tree is an American violist, born in Newark, New Jersey.-Biography:Michael Tree's principal studies were with Efrem Zimbalist on violin and viola at the Curtis Institute of Music...
(b.1934) - Karen TuttleKaren TuttleKaren Tuttle was an American viola teacher, famous for her "coordination" technique, which emphasizes being comfortable while playing the instrument. She was originally a violinist who chose to become a violist when she wanted to study with William Primrose, whose technique and ease in playing...
(1920–2010)
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- Åke UddénÅke UddénÅke Olof Sebastian Uddén was a Swedish violist, composer, conductor and music educator....
(1903–1987), composer, conductor - Alfred UhlAlfred UhlAlfred Uhl was an Austrian composer, violist, music teacher and conductor.-Biography:Uhl studied with Franz Schmidt at the Vienna Music Academy, receiving a diploma in composition with honours in 1932. He subsequently worked as Kapellmeister of the Swiss Festspielmusik in Zürich...
(1909–1992) - Chrétien UrhanChrétien UrhanChrétien Urhan was a violinist, organist, composer and player of the viola and the viola d'amore.- Career outline :His father first introduced him to the violin...
(1790–1845)
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- Roland VamosRoland and Almita VamosRoland and Almita Vamos are a husband and wife who are among the leading violin and viola instructors in the world. Their pupils have become prominent soloists, members of world renowned chamber groups and orchestras, and laureates of prestigious international competitions...
(b.1930) - Jan Křtitel VaňhalJohann Baptist VanhalJohann Baptist Vanhal also spelled Wanhal, Waṅhall or Wanhall was an important classical music composer born in Nechanice, Bohemia to a Czech family.- Biography :...
(1739–1813) - Léon van HoutLéon van HoutLéon van Hout was a Belgian violist and music educator.From 1888 to 1894 Van Hout was the violist of the Ysaÿe Quartet along with cellist Joseph Jacob, and violinists Mathieu Crickboom and Eugène Ysaÿe...
(1864–1945) - Emanuel VardiEmanuel VardiEmanuel Vardi an Israeli-American violist, was considered to have been one of the great viola players of the 20th century.- Early life :...
(1915–2011) - Maxim VengerovMaxim VengerovMaxim Alexandrovich Vengerov is a violinist, violist, and conductor who was born in the Soviet Union.-Youth:Born on 20 August 1974 in Novosibirsk, Russia, to a family with musical tradition....
(b.1974), violinist - Robert VernonRobert VernonRobert Vernon is a classical violist and teacher.Robert Vernon has served as the Principal Violist of the Cleveland Orchestra since 1976. Vernon occupies the endowed Chaillé H. and Richard B. Tullis Chair, and along with Franklin Cohen has served longer in a Principal position than any other...
(b.1949) - Maurice VieuxMaurice VieuxMaurice Edgard Vieux was a French violist whose teaching at the Conservatoire de Paris plays a key role in the history of the viola in France....
(1884–1951)
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- Louis van WaefelghemLouis van WaefelghemLouis van Waefelghem was a Belgian violinist, violist and one of the greatest viola d'amore players of the 19th century...
(1840–1908) - Ernst WallfischErnst WallfischErnst Wallfisch was a prominent viola soloist, recording artist and pedagogue, primarily remembered along with his wife, pianist Lory Wallfisch, as partners of the Wallfisch Duo....
(1920–1979) - Geraldine WaltherGeraldine WaltherGeraldine Lamboley Walther is an American violist. Since 2005 she has been a member of the Takács String Quartet, replacing Roger Tapping as violist of the group. She is the former principal violist of the San Francisco Symphony, a role she held from 1976 through 2005...
(b.1950) - Melia WatrasMelia WatrasDescribed as "staggeringly virtuosic" by The Strad, Melia Watras is a prominent American violist. She is active as a performer and recording artist, both as a soloist and co-founder of the award-winning Corigliano Quartet...
- John WebbJohn Webb (composer)-Biography:He was educated in Essex where he started playing the piano and viola. He began to compose at 14, and two years later attended Colchester Institute. Here he studied piano with Frank Wibaut and composition with John Joubert at the Birmingham Conservatoire....
(b.1969), composer - Henryk WieniawskiHenryk WieniawskiHenryk Wieniawski was a Polish violinist and composer.-Biography:Henryk Wieniawski was born in Lublin, Congress Poland, Russian Empire. His father, Tobiasz Pietruszka, had converted to Catholicism. His talent for playing the violin was recognized early, and in 1843 he entered the Paris...
(1835–1880), violinist - Mark WoodMark Wood (violinist)Mark Winthrop Wood is an electric violinist, as well as the founder of Wood Violins, a company that makes unique electric violins. He is also an Emmy-winning composer. His music and strings education program has been featured on news programs nationwide....
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- Eugène YsaÿeEugène YsaÿeEugène Ysaÿe was a Belgian violinist, composer and conductor born in Liège. He was regarded as "The King of the Violin", or, as Nathan Milstein put it, the "tzar"...
(1858–1931), violinist
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- Grigori ZhislinGrigori ZhislinGrigori Yefimovich Zhislin is a Russian violinist and pedagogue.He studied with Yuri Yankelevich at the Moscow Conservatory. At the age of 22, he won the First Price at the Paganini Competition in Genua and the Silvermedal at the Queen Elizabeth Competition...
(b.1945), violinist - Lev ZhurbinLev ZhurbinLev 'Ljova' Zhurbin is a composer, violist, and arranger. Ljova is the author of over 70 original compositions for classical, jazz, and folk music ensembles. He has also contributed musical scores to numerous short and feature films.Ljova immigrated to the United States in 1990 and currently...
(b.1978), composer - Tabea ZimmermannTabea ZimmermannTabea Zimmermann, born on October 8, 1966 in Lahr, , is a German violist.She began learning to play the viola at the age of three, and commenced piano studies at age five...
(b.1966) - Pinchas ZukermanPinchas ZukermanPinchas Zukerman is a world-renowned violinist, violist, and conductor. He is considered one of the greatest violinists of the 20th and 21st centuries, and his ongoing 45-year career has seen him perform with the world's best-known orchestras and record over 100 works...
(b.1948), violinist