Vegas Violas

Forty years ago, I switched from violin to viola.  Jeff Irvine – fresh from a master’s degree at Eastman – was my first viola teacher, and the best string teacher I ever had.  Several years later he became my sister-in-law’s viola professor at Oberlin Conservatory.  And this last weekend we were all together at the Viola Festival at UNLV, where Kate is the viola professor.

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Jeff with his Iizuka viola

Jeff was the featured guest, escaping from the ​snowy weather in Cleveland for a few days in the Nevada sunshine.  He gave a master class, played in the viola choir, and hung out with Kate and me.  Just as I remember him, Jeff is kind, generous, and engaging.  He obviously cares ​about the people he is working with.  He always starts with positive feedback before identifying the weaknesses.  He asks questions, uses insightful analogies, demonstrates and coaches through new techniques and approaches to problem solving.  Jeff was the first teacher who walked all around me while I played, observing my form from all angles and correcting a bow hold here or a neck tilt there.  It was unnerving at first, but he caught things my previous string teachers hadn’t noticed for years.  I soon came to appreciate his unconventional style, and rapidly improved.​

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Cuban American violist Yunior Lopez gave the master class for high school students from the community.  In addition to performing and teaching viola students, he is the founder and conductor of the Young Artists Orchestra in Las Vegas.  I didn't get a photo of his master class, but you can check out these excellent performances by Yunior and a few of his high school musicians:  Bach Chaconne for Four Violas and  Brandenburg #6.

​If you’re not sure you like the sound of the viola, listen to a viola choir – you will develop a new appreciation for this beautiful, rich sounding instrument.  Twenty-five of us gathered on the stage to play a few pieces, where finally, with no violins in sight, we got to play the melody.  And that melody wasn’t just for the Viola 1 part:  violists are nice people, and we like sharing.  Each of the four parts took turns playing melody, harmony, and accompaniment.

Kate with Jeff and some of her students

It was a great group of violists – visiting professionals, teachers and musicians from the community, college students and high school students.  And Joey, the extremely well-behaved black Pomeranian mix, who wandered among us on stage during the viola choir rehearsal wagging his tail and enjoying the beautiful music.

​Hopefully, this will become an annual event!

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