About
Viola Day 2024 will feature guest artists Julia Bullard of Kennesaw State University and Derek Reeves, Principal Violist for the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.
Register here.
Schedule of Events and Programs
9:30 a.m.......Welcome and Opening Recital (Hahn Hall)
10:15 a.m.....College/Pre-college Master Class
11:15 a.m.....Presentation: Finding Success and Happiness as a Musician (Sursa Hall)
12:00 p.m.....Pizza Lunch and Q&A with Faculty (upstairs Mueller Lobby)
1:00 p.m.......Viola Choir rehearsal (Sursa Hall)
2:00 p.m.......Presentation: Alexander Technique
3:00 p.m.......Final Rehearsal (Sursa Hall)
4:30 p.m.......Final Concert (Sursa Hall) Parents and Guests Welcome!
About the Guest Artists
Julia Bullard
Violist Julia Bullard is an active solo, chamber and orchestral performer both in the US and abroad. As a chamber musician, she has performed as a guest with ensembles including the Aspen String Trio, the Maia Quartet, and the Arianna Quartet. She performs regularly as violist of Trio 826, whose first album, entitled Mosaic, was released on the Blue Griffin label in 2016.
Dr. Bullard has presented guest performances and master classes at universities across the US. Her students have been accepted to prestigious graduate programs and summer festivals, are successful teachers in the public schools and private studios, and hold positions in symphony orchestras. Dr. Bullard was the recipient of the Leopold LaFosse Studio Teacher of the Year award in 2011 from the Iowa String Teachers Association. She has also been a featured performer and teacher at several summer music festivals including the Wintergreen Summer Music Festival and Academy, Cedar Valley Chamber Music Festival, Madeline Island Music Festival, and others.
In addition to her work as a musician, Dr. Bullard is also a long-time student of the Alexander Technique, and completed her 1600-hour teacher certification through the Minnesota Center for the Alexander Technique. She teaches privately and conducts Alexander Technique workshops at colleges and universities across the US. Dr. Bullard brings her knowledge of the Alexander Technique to her violin and viola teaching, to help students learn to move and play with ease and freedom, and to help prevent or recover from performance-related injuries.
Dr. Bullard received Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Temple University in Philadelphia, and the DMA degree from the University of Georgia. Her principal teachers included violists Joseph dePasquale, Emanuel Vardi, Sidney Curtiss, and Mark Cedel, and violinist Levon Ambartsumian. From 2000-2022, Dr. Bullard served as viola professor at the University of Northern Iowa, where she was also Associate Director for Graduate Studies for 10 years. In August 2022, Dr. Bullard joined the faculty of Kennesaw State University as Professor and Interim Director of the Bailey School of Music.
Derek Reeves
Derek Reeves is the Principal Violist of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and Violist of the Freimann String Quartet, since joining the orchestra in 2003.
As soloist, Mr. Reeves has appeared with The Bryan Symphony Orchestra, The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, The Erie Chamber Orchestra, The Niagara Symphony Orchestra, The Fort Wayne Philharmonic, The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, The Indianapolis Philharmonic Orchestra, The Carmel Symphony Orchestra and The Gateways Festival Orchestra, as well as having performed concert tours in Europe and Japan.
He has also appeared in concert with Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, The Eagles, Josh Groban, Lindsey Stirling, Evanescence, Disturbed, Aretha Franklin, “Weird Al” Yankovic and many others. He has also written and performed music for the albums Addison Agen and Christiana Danielle.
A passionate advocate for music education, he is an adjunct professor of viola at Purdue University Fort Wayne, and is the originator of an El Sistema based string education program in Fort Wayne called “Club O.” This program has grown to include three Title 1 schools had a profound impact on how music is taught in this community. He recently taught a master class at The Juilliard School and is a member of the viola faculty at the Brevard Music Center in Brevard, North Carolina.
He performs on a viola made by Jon Kouwenhoven and resides in Fort Wayne.