Gregory K. Williams

I am thrilled to say that Aaron Copland School of Music Viola Day 2024 was a huge success! In total we had about 3 dozen violists on stages– which included middle schoolers, high schoolers, college students, and teachers from across New York City and the New York Metropolitan area. One of our conducting grad students, Bridget Kinneary (a fine violist in her own right), conducted a premiere arrangement of Duke Ellington’s Mellow Tone for Viola Ensemble plus Jazz Combo (Bass, Drums, and Piano), with a riveting arrangement done by Dexter Stanley-Tauvao, an incredible Jazz drummer at Queens College. One of my former viola students, Holly Grabowski inaugurated the Junior Viola Ensemble, comprised of ten 7th and 8th graders. We had two simultaneous workshops, the first being an Intro to Improv on Viola led by Concetta Abbate, and the other being a Careers in Music for Violists led by Dawson White. We also had masterclasses led by a few dear colleagues, Aundrey Mitchell, Eva Gerard, Dawson White, and myself. Our viola day also had several solo performances led by several Queens College violists who study with both myself and my esteemed colleague, Professor Daniel Phillips! Overall, it was an amazing day, and I am already looking forward to next year!

But until then there are other performances looming on the horizon! I am really getting excited about Sunday’s performance at Merkin Hall with Parlando! This is going to be an epic performance, as we perform our Transient Voices concert, featuring Aida Shirazi’s Umbra, and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 14. This concert will be taking place on Sunday, February 25, at 3:00pm. The symphony is not your average symphony, it is an 11-movement work composed for Soprano, Bass-baritone, string orchestra, celesta, and percussion. This group has been working incredibly hard to get Shostakovich’s powerful work ready, and this piece explores fascinating sonorities, including some entangling bass duos, luscious cello solos (brought to you by Diana Golden, our principal cellist.)

For info about the concert (and how to get tickets), please go to: https://www.parlandonyc.com/parlando-events/transient-voices

If you’re planning to join us, please let me know!