Young musicians will have a chance to tune up their skills at the third annual WVU Viola Day set for Sunday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in West Virginia University’s College of Creative Arts.

Andrea Priester Houde, assistant professor of viola in WVU’s School of Music, will be joined by educators from Virginia and Tennessee to offer a day of master classes for all skill levels.

“Viola days have become very popular for students, and we want to offer them for violists in our region,” said Houde, who will team with Hillary Herndon of the University of Tennessee and Ayn Theresa Balija of the University of Virginia. Past WVU Viola Days have drawn musicians from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia, in addition to West Virginia.

The day will start with “viola yoga,” when all participants join together for physical activity. The day continues with technique classes for all skill levels, and the opportunity to meet with instrument and equipment vendors.

Houde, Herndon and Balija will present a concert for participants. The WVU violist is currently working on one a favorite contemporary piece, “Viola Zombie” by Michael Daugherty, which brings a little bit of “The Walking Dead” to the viola repertoire. The piece will be featured in the final recital of the day.

The event is free and open to violists of all ages, but registration is required. To register, please contact Houde at Andrea.Houde@mail.wvu.edu. Same-day registration will also begin the morning of the event at 9 a.m. in the Douglas O. Blaney Lobby of the Creative Arts Center on WVU’s main campus.

-WVU-

dw/09/30/15

CONTACT: David Welsh, WVU College of Creative Arts
304.293.3397, David.Welsh@mail.wvu.edu

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