Interested in Viola?

Welcome!

We're glad you are interested in studying viola at the Baylor University School of Music! The Baylor University School of Music offers the following degrees in viola (see the Degree Plans page for more details):

• Bachelor of Music (Performance)
• Bachelor of Music Education
• Secondary Major
• Master of Music

Graduate Assistantships are also available in the viola studio. Please email Dr. Kathryn Steely. for more information.

Please follow the steps on the How to Apply page to apply and request an audition.

If you have questions at any stage in the application/audition process, please feel free to directly email Dr. Kathryn Steely.

Studio Mission and Teaching Philosophy

Mentoring students as they travel towards responsible artistic independence is the goal of the viola studio. In a collegial atmosphere of creative pursuit of students' individual goals, together we explore:

• efficient practice habits 
• approaches to healthy playing set up and alignment 
• development of a broad range of technical tools and problem-solving skills
• develop and expand the tone color palette
• develop ways to build phrasing and structural awareness
• expand the ability to dig deep into a score to make wise musical decisions 
• how to communicate effectively to an audience through both standard repertoire and works newly created or discovered  

Our goal is to approach our work with excellence, wellness, and curiosity as we explore what it means to be artist musicians in society.

Viola students from the Baylor Viola Studio have been scholarship recipients and participants in many national and international summer festivals.  Following undergraduate study, students have been offered generous graduate teaching assistantships and scholarships for ongoing study at leading conservatories and programs across the country. Alumni perform and teach in a range of orchestral and educational programs worldwide. 

Performance Opportunities

The Baylor School of Music offers remarkable performance opportunities through its esteemed chamber music and large ensemble programs. These ensembles combine a stimulating learning environment with a high level of artistic achievement, and regularly present concerts nationwide and abroad. Students participate in Baylor Symphony every semester and faculty coached chamber music ensembles most semesters, depending upon their degree plan. Both large and small ensembles seek to expand students understanding of both standard and newly composed or newly discovered repertoire representing diverse composers.