About the Studio

Above: Johannah Carmona works with Augusta Read Thomas

The Viola Program

The viola studio is a comprehensive program with weekly lessons, studio classes, and technique classes, as well as mock auditions, an annual Viola Prize competition, and Graduate or Teaching Assistant positions. Recent masterclasses have been given by Jeffrey Irvine, James Dunham, Roberto Diaz, and Steven Dann.

Viola study at Northwestern is a competitive program that requires students to work at their very best. Students are trained with the job market in mind, and there are opportunities to work on professional application materials, learn how to teach a masterclass, and apply for positions - as well as play at the highest level possible.

The Bienen School

The Bienen School has a thriving chamber music program, a concerto competition, and many other performance opportunities. It boasts two orchestras, a baroque and early music ensemble, and a contemporary music ensemble, among others. Recently, the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra toured China, and chamber ensembles formed at Northwestern recently have gone on to compete and win at national and international competitions.

Degrees

At Northwestern, students can pursue a Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, or Doctor of Musical Arts degree in viola performance. Northwestern also allows undergraduates to choose between solely studying viola performance, taking on a second major, or going through a five year dual degree program in another one of the undergraduate schools, such as the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences or McCormick School of Engineering.

Facilities

The Bienen School of Music boasts some of the world’s most impressive facilities with its brand new Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Center for the Musical Arts. The Ryan Center includes just under 100 practice rooms with lakefront views, state of the art classrooms, studios and administration offices, several world-class recital halls, and an opera theater. The music school also includes Regenstein Hall and the Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.

The Viola Prize

Each year, the NU Viola Studio holds an internal studio competition on a selected work, adjudicated by a guest juror. The competition provides students with a performance opportunity and experience in preparing a work for a competition setting. Pictured are the winners of the 2023 Viola Prize. From left to right: adjudicator Robert Levine of the Milwaukee Symphony, Michael Ayala, Santy del Castillo, Sanghoo Lee, Kunjing Dai, and Susanna Bobbs.