The West Virginia University Viola Studio is presenting its very first “WVU Viola Day” on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Creative Arts Center. All events are free and open to anyone who loves the viola.

According to Andrea Houde, professor of viola in the School of Music, sessions will include master classes, clinics and discussions on various topics related to the viola. Pre-college and college students are invited to perform in the master classes.

Guest artist Sheila Browne, who has been hailed as one of America’s most important violists, will give a master class and a recital with Barbara Browne on the piano. She will also lead a discussion on violist Karen Tuttle’s legacy and techniques.

Browne’s recital will be at held Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. in Bloch Learning and Performance Hall (200A). The program will feature the works of Britten, Hindemith, Prokofiev.

Sheila Browne has performed in many of the world’s major halls as soloist, chamber musician, and as an orchestral principal. Hailed by the New York Times as a “stylish player” and by Robert Mann as “one of America’s most important violists,” she has soloed with the Juilliard Orchestra, Kiev Philharmonic, New World Symphony, in Carnegie Hall with the New York Women’s Ensemble, South African International Viola Congress Festival Orchestra, and the Viva Vivaldi!, Reina Sofia and German-French chamber orchestras, among others. She is a member of the newly formed, dynamic flute-viola-harp Fire Pink Trio and has recorded for the Nonesuch, Sony, Albany, Centaur and ERM labels. She premiered a concerto written for herself at the most recent international viola congresses in Australia and South Africa. Browne is a graduate of the Juilliard School, MusikHochschule Freiburg and Rice University. See her website: http://sheilabrowneviola.com/

The full Viola Day 2013 Schedule includes:

9 a.m. – 10 a.m. – Registration/Check-in (CAC lobby)

9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. – Viola “Yoga” (CAC lobby)

10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Sheila Browne Master Class (Bloch Hall)

11:40 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Viola Technique Clinic (Room 424)

12:30-2:00 Lunch

2 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. – Discussion of Karen Tuttle’s Legacy and Ideas (Room 424)

3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Andrea Houde Master Class (Room 424)

4:40 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. – Question and Answer Session with faculty and students (Bloch Hall)

5:15 p.m.- 7 p.m. – Pizza Dinner (CAC lobby)

7 p.m. – Recital by Sheila Browne, viola, and Barbara Browne, piano (Bloch Hall)

To register for Viola Day, or to learn more, please send an email to wvuvioladay@gmail.com or contact Andrea Houde at Andrea.Houde@mail.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

cl/09/18/13

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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