Legendary Violist Steven Dann Visits UK

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 17, 2009) - The University of Kentucky School of Music and the Kentucky Viola Society welcome to campus legendary Canadian violist Steven Dann Nov. 20-21. During his visit to UK, Dann will present master classes and a tutorial, as well as perform in concert.

Dann is the former principal viola of the famed Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam and the Toronto Symphony. A member of the Axelrod Quartet at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., he is also the violist in the Zebra Trio with Ernst Kovacic and Anssi Kartunnen and is a renowned international soloist.
 

Deborah Lander, assistant professor of viola at UK and president of the Kentucky Viola Society, says "It's so exciting to have an artist of Steven Dann's stature come to inspire our students, faculty and local teachers. We were lucky that he agreed to give us his only two free days between August 2009 and January 2010. It's also a coup for the Kentucky Viola Society to be able to attract such a big name for our first official event. It gets us underway with a bang!"
 

Dann will give a master class for high school students from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20. On Saturday, Nov. 21, he will give a master class for university students from 10 a.m. to noon and an open tutorial with the UK Symphony Orchestra's viola section on Gustav Mahler's 1st Symphony from 1 to 2:30 p.m. That same day at 6 p.m. Dann will be joined by Lander; Benjamin Karp, associate professor of cello; and Schuyler Robinson, professor of organ, for a concert which will celebrate the wonderful sound of the viola.

All events featuring Dann will be presented in the Briggs Theatre in the UK Fine Arts Building, located at 456 Rose St. Members of the public are welcome to attend all events; tickets for the classes are $5 each and for the concert $10 for adults and $5 for students and children under 16. The concert will be followed by a reception with a raffle drawing for a viola bow donated by Amoré Strings.

For further information on the UK School of Music and Kentucky Viola Society events featuring Steven Dann, e-mail Deborah Lander at debviola@gmail.com.