Team Viola: Successful Recruiting Fills YOBC’s Viola Sections the cello (which is tuned an octave below it). Viola students learn to read different music, too. Music that is written for the viola primarily uses the alto clef, which is otherwise rarely used. Violas generally use heavier strings than the violin which, combined with its larger size and lower pitch range, crePhilharmonia violists: (l to r) Anna Mann, ates a deeper and mellower Veronica Bochenek, James Kong, Lyric Scott, Symphony Orchestra violists: (l to r) Emma Akbari, tone. The thicker strings also and Anna Bochenek Avery Twyman, Spencer Szwalbenest, Kendall mean that the viola speaks Scott, Annelise Abraham, Michelle Tyson more “slowly.” That means if a violist and violinist are playing everal years ago, a large group together, the violist must begin of violists progressed together moving the bow a fraction of a secthrough YOBC’s ensembles, ond sooner than the violinist. They Concertino to Symphony Orchestra. must also apply more weight with Nicknamed “Team Viola” they often the bow to play the notes. Much reported to rehearsals in the purple like altos in a choir, the viola often tie-dyed t-shirts they had made for fills in harmonies in an orchestra. themselves. Since this group graduIts dark and chocolatey sound ated in 2011, YOBC has seen some blends the string sections together very small viola sections in its five and gives body to the orchestra as string ensembles—with our principal a whole. violist Spencer Szwalbenest, and YOBC violists are in good Ripieno’s Baruni Palayam sometimes company: Bach, Mozart, and comprising their entire section. This Beethoven all played the viola. year, thanks to active recruiting and The famed instrument maker referrals from several enthusiastic Stradivari also made violas, but teachers, YOBC’s viola sections are because they were not as comRipieno violists: (l to r) David Kim, Rose Dai, Baruni Palayam, Sharvil Mistra thriving. mon as the violin and cello, they Most viola students say they chose are extremely rare and even more their instrument because they like valuable than his violins. the way it sounds. While it looks a lot As YOBC begins like a violin, scheduling auditions in fact it is for new musicians for slightly larthe 2016–17 season, of ger and has a course we welcome lower and even more violists. But deeper sound given our successful than a violin. recruiting, this year we The viola also wonder...do you serves as the know any good basmiddle voice soonists? of the violin Auditions for new family, bemusicians will be held tween the on May 14–15 at Bucks violin (which County Community is tuned a College. Applications Concertino violists: (l to r) Kate Dillard, Ben Sacks, Olivia Rumpf, Phoebe Vallapureddy, Donna Nagorny, Amber Li, Nala perfect fifth are now being acPrima Strings violist: Ashanti, Christina Erckert, Kate Bariahtaris Jacob French above it) and cepted—apply online!
S
Volume 7, Number 3, February 2016
Page 3