We had a great turnout for ViolaMANIA! 5.0 - thanks to all who performed, participated and donated. Special thanks to Dolce Violins, Heaney Violins and Joan Balter Violins for their raffle donations.
Congratulations to our 2022 Young Violists Competition Winners:
Andrew Ahn, 16, from Atherton
Andrew Hwang, 14, from Palo Alto
Chanhee Park, 16, from San Jose
Meet our winners:
Andrew Ahn, First Place and Best Performance of Micro Suite, entered the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre College Division as a violist in 2016 where he currently studies with Pei-Ling Lin.He has been a member of Young Chamber Musicians since 2020, performing in masterclasses with Chris Costanza of the St. Lawrence Quartet and Eric Chin of the Telegraph Quartet.As a soloist, Andrew has won multiple awards including 3rd place in the USIMC 2020 and 2nd place in the KAMSA 2021, and has performed in a masterclass with Paul Yarborough of the Alexander String Quartet. Andrew attended the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival in 2020, and the Bowdoin International Summer Music Festival in 2021. Outside of music, he enjoys playing video games with his friends and studying chemistry.
Andrew Hwang, Second Place and Best Bach Performance, is a freshman at Henry Gunn High School, where he is principal violist in the orchestra.He started playing the viola at age 9 under Sujung Seok, and has been studying with Minji Kim since 2020.He is a member of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, and of the Young Chamber Musicians led by Susan Bates. Andrew has won numerous competitions including 2nd place at the 2021 United States International Music Competition, and 4th prize at the 2021 Houston International Music Competition. In addition, he received the Grand Prize in the 2021 Silicon Valley Music Competition, 1st prize in the 2021 KAMSA Competition, and was a winner of the 2021 Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition where he had been a member for three years. Andrew has been a member of the 2020 and 2021 California All-State Junior High Orchestra, and of the High School Symphony in 2022. He participated in the 2021 Heifetz PEG program studying with Bela Horvath, and in the 2021 Bowdoin Music Festival with Che-Yen Chen. Andrew has been performing for Red Cross Disaster Relief in Nahnoom Benefit Concerts since 2017.
11th grader Chanhee Park, Third Prize Winner, attends Archbishop Mitty High School.He started piano in 1st grade, and that led to his interest in viola 3 years later, under his current teacher Yunsun Kim. Says Chanhee' "She taught me everything and fed my interest in competitions, ensembles, and orchestra." Chanhee joined the Silicon Valley Youth Symphony as a 7th grader, and became a principal of the viola section soon after. Chanhee has participated in many competitions and won first place in the Silicon Valley Music Competition and the United States International Music Competition. He has also participated in a variety of ensembles including a trio and a quartet; these groups have found some competitive success as well. "Music has shaped my life and I'm trying to get back into the swing of things as COVID hopefully dies down."
NCVS Viola Pandemonium Sessions continue in 2021:
May 2, 2021 - hear practice tips from our YVC violists:
These five excellent young players from Northern California who performed in our Young Violist Competition finals share strategies for learning repertoire and building technique. We are excited to showcase our 2021 Young Violist Competition finalists
in a new way: as teachers! Learn from five of the most talented and
wonderful young violists in our region.
April 2021, Molly Carr on Dounis Daily Dozen for Violists
In a conversation with viola in hand, Molly walked us through and generously shared her years of experience with this extensive and interesting warmup routine. Around 10 years ago, Molly's viola teacher Steven Tenenbom of the Orion Quartet, along with
his quartet colleague violinist Daniel Phillips, each gave presentations
to her studio class at Juilliard on the fascinating ways that the
Dounis philosophy can change the brain/body connection and ultimately
improve one's ease and facility on the instrument. Molly says, "With so
many respected musicians around me suddenly raving about the benefits of
this philosophy of playing, I decided it was high time I looked into
this 'Dounis'. And wow. I'm so glad I did!"
Molly had been transposing the violin exercises down a fifth in daily
practicing and having her viola students do the same. But now, with the
gift of time during the pandemic, she was able to finally transpose
these exercises officially into the world of the viola.
Feb 2021, NCVS's 2021 winning composer Andrew Wilson on composing life in lockdown and beyond. Escape to the English countryside with us!
Join Daria, Patty and Katie for a conversation with NCVS Composition Contest 2020-21 winner, Andrew Wilson, checking in from Devon, UK. He totally charmed us, and you’ll love him, too. Want to know where to find an open pub during lockdown? Or how bicycling can be as good for composing as it is for cardio?
Naturally we discussed his work and the winning composition, a fantasia for solo viola, VIOLA & CESARIO. Andrew talked about the Shakespearian inspiration and the intricacies of the Twelfth Night references in the music. Don't forget that you can hear it premiered by our NCVS Young Violists Competition finalists on March 7th. We are thrilled to introduce it to you.
During the conversation, we were also transported by a recording of Andrew's piece, TROS AN TREYS, which means dancing in Cornish, or literally "The sound of the feet". Written for string orchestra, which instantly evokes the beautiful English countryside in the vein of Elgar, Stanford, Vaughn Williams and Holst.
Jan 2021 - Nuts & Bolts, Strings, Bridges and Frogs: what it takes to keep instruments responding smoothly and what the player can do to help with Joan Balter Watch here
What kind of strings should I use? Can I mix and match? When
do I need a rehair? What is the best rosin to use? Why is my bridge tilting and
what can I do about it? Local luthier Joan Balter, the proprietor of Balter
Violins in Berkeley, California will talk to us about the nuts, bolts, bridges
and frogs of our treasured instruments. We will get insights into looking for
an instrument and bow, basic maintenance that you can keep an eye on at home,
and maybe even hear a viola joke or two! Joan is our official viola joke teller
at ViolaMania, our viola gathering held every couple of years in Berkeley.
Clifton Harrison talks about the Viola d'amore & more Jan 2021
Clifton Harrison joined us from London in a lively conversation about the violas in his life - d'amore, baroque & modern - and his musical life in lockdown.
Violist Clifton
Harrison, a Midwesterner by birth, has been in the UK for more than 10 yearsleading a multi-faceted musical
career. In this wide-ranging conversation, he discusseshis instruments and bows, the musical
journey that led him to London, and how he has adaptedduring lockdown.He will introduce the viola d'amore and
discuss some of the intricacies of developing facility on the instrument.
Repertoire for the d'amore, some listening suggestionsand some fascinating stories are along the
way.Join us for this discussion with
this wonderfully
engaging and unique performer and learn something about the
characteristics of the viola d’amore!
Northern California Viola society invites you into November with 3 more online sessions on Sundays@5pm pacific time. It is Kató Havas and the New Approach all month to honor her - November 5th would have been her 100th birthday. Five wonderful teachers will lead us in specific exercises and also help you understand her approach. Those of us who worked with her know that all during her lifetime she adamantly resisted the idea that New Approach be called a "method" or "system". There are often misconceptions about what it actually is! Katò Havas’ New Approach gives us a comprehensive system using movement
and balance which leads to ease in playing. With the guidance of
musicians who studied with Havas in Oxford, participants will learn
strategies unique to the New Approach, including the concepts of “no
violin,” "the giving left hand," “no bow hold" and bow distribution
through the right arm "hinges." Katò Havas’ teachings have guided
generations of musicians in their quest to play with physical freedom
and wellness. Register via eventbrite links below. You must register to participate.
The sessions are free and open to violists from anywhere and we
encourage a variety of ages and skill levels. Please attend any or all
three this month and spread the word. If you would like to support our
efforts with a membership, renewal or gift, we would welcome your
support. All donations will benefit the Young Violists Competition and
Composer Competition. We are a 501(c)3 and your donations may be tax
deductible.
November 15th with Bettina Mussumeli and Jodi Levitz, 5pm Pacific:
Stellar teaching artists Jodi Levitz, viola, and Bettina Mussumeli,
violin, made enormous contributions to Northern California in their
years here performing and teaching at the San Francisco Conservatory.
With the magic of Zoom, we are able to whisk them back from their
current environs in Miami to lead us in an exploration of Kato Havas'
New Approach. We'll be focusing on integrating the basic principals of
the New Approach with so-called “mainstream” string technique.
Katò Havas’ New Approach is a string training pathway that focuses on
connecting physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of music making. Join Patty Heller to learn
the practice of miming, in which we first isolate movement, then combine into harmonious and effective
performance. Miming involves finding the pulse, directing movement with
the voice, working out the mechanics of bow distribution and
interval shapes.
November 29th with David Daniel Bowes, Jeananne Weber and Patricia Heller, 5pm Pacific:
A common misconception holds that beginning to learn any instrument
requires an initial period of struggle where the sound is unpleasant to
the player and anyone listening. This session will demonstrate that by
applying the principles of the New Approach from the very start, we can
structure our movements in order to nurture resonance of the instrument.
Ease in the body leads to releasing beautiful tone from the instrument.
David, Jeananne and Patty created this session for an ASTA conference -
we are the lucky recipients of their extensive knowledge and experience
teaching and performing using the New Approach.
OCTOBER: Eleanor Angel's Primrose Practice Tips, October 18, 5pm PDT:
Northern California violist, educator and Bay Area treasure takes us on a journey of discovery, how to turn tricky passagework flawless using William Primrose's techniques. Using familiar repertoire, Eleanor will walk us through an exercise for
learning 16th note and triplet passages in rhythms and in all parts of
the bow. We'll leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of agile fingers
and clean string crossings! Along the way she will share stories of her
time with Primrose from her first lesson onwards. In addition to having a full studio of violin and viola students,
Eleanor is the past Assistant Director of the de Veritch Institute for
Viola, and the Founder/Past President of the Northern California Viola
Society.To watch this session:YouTube link for NCVS Eleanor video
Jeremy Cohen Tango Techniques, October 11, 5pm PDT
Jeremy Cohen has dazzled the string world for decades
with his violin and he is certainly no stranger to the viola!! With his
extensive background in tango, jazz, classical, country, blues, rock and
funk, Jeremy will share his knowledge with us we try out tango
techniques from the Arrastre to the Tambour. Don't miss out on Jeremy's Viola Duets - purchase the sheet music here and listen: Jeremy's Viola Duets on YouTube,
This is going to be BIG fun, do.not.miss! With lively music and a
great spirit, Cookie brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from
her years of performing and teaching. We are lucky to snag her- she is
usually off playing worldwide with her trio, Veretski Pass! She is an
expert in Jewish violin style and has transcribed countless folk tunes
from the tradition.
Get your mind-body-spirit mojo going in this hour-long workshop. David's
workshop will have as the centerpiece an experience of one of Moshe
Feldenkrais' many lessons called ATM, or "Awareness Through Movement". David is celebrating his 50th anniversary of teaching music this
year, having given his first violin and piano lessons when he was 16.
Studying the Feldenkrais® Method seemed a natural extension of immersion
in the New Approach, which constitute the teaching principles of Kato Havas, OBE.
Experienced music educator and clinician Dr Thomas Tatton leads us
through a series of games that are challenging but accessible to many
levels of players. No exercise book is needed as we try out the "games"
that Tom demonstrates for finding a deeper tone, developing sautillé,
shifting with a relaxed arm and building accuracy in higher positions.
With a wealth of experience in educational settings, Tom will explain
how to do the exercises and what technique is being developed. We try it
out and learn something new - pedagogy without tears! Watch here
This month, August 2020, we are starting the Viola Pandemonium Sessions, join us to stir it up in lockdown! Aug 16, 23 & 30, Sundays at 5pm. These sessions are free to members and we suggest a donation for non-members, no one turned away for lack of funds. Please keep in mind that we are a volunteer-run non-profit and if you value this type of event, show us by donating so we can keep this and future programs going. Join NCVS for member dues of only $20.
On August 23rd, Keith Lawrence teaches us some improvisation skills, fun style techniques and encourages violists in finding their individual creative voice. Keith is violist, composer, vocalist, and arranger, currently with Cosa Nostra Strings, a group in the Jazz Mafia Collective based in the SF Bay Area. He is also a colleague in many classical orchestra and chamber groups in the area.
Ethan Filner, beloved past President of NCVS will lead us on August 30th in "Kreutzer Club" - a chance to break through the isolation of the practice room lately! We'll be playing etudes together to tackle rewarding, challenging, fun and/or beautiful ones. Submit one of your faves in pdf format in advance, prepare to play it in a super mini-masterclass setting for individual feedback or follow along at home. Can be Kreutzer or any composer that you have been working on.
