viola

While majoring in viola performance as an undergraduate at Northern Illinois University and studying with members of the Vermeer Quartet, Susan Ung became involved in performances on various Asian and Indonesian instruments, as well as improvisation. Later, her graduate studies at SUNY Stony Brook afforded her training and experience in contemporary music and notably, work with violist, John Graham. She has worked professionally in New York, Philadelphia and Phoenix and is currently teaching and free-lancing in San Diego.

While majoring in viola performance as an undergraduate at Northern Illinois University and studying with members of the Vermeer Quartet, Susan Ung became involved in performances on various Asian and Indonesian instruments, as well as improvisation. Later, her graduate studies at SUNY Stony Brook afforded her training and experience in contemporary music and notably, work with violist, John Graham. She has worked professionally in New York, Philadelphia and Phoenix and is currently teaching and free-lancing in San Diego.

While living in Arizona, she was a member of the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, and was also co-founder, violist and manager of Ensemble 21, a contemporary ensemble conducted by Arthur Weisberg, which made several recordings. She was personnel manager and principal violist in the La Jolla Symphony for five years, and is now touring and performing in a series of lecture recitals with her husband. She has recently recorded a new viola version of Khse Buon, and a trio for alto flute, viola and harp, Child Song, soon to be released on Bridge Records, and has recently toured Southeast Asia with the Los Angeles based group, Southwest Chamber Music, in performances of a large work, Aura, all works composed by her husband, Chinary Ung.

Performances

Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory | February 15, 2013

News and Press

[Concert Review] BMOP gives the viola its moment in the sun

And now, it might be asked, should we pity the viola? It is after all consigned to an unglamorous middle range, and is ever on the receiving end of all that merciless skewering (if you don’t know what I mean, type “viola jokes” into Google, or ask anyone who has played in an orchestra).

The Boston Globe Full review
[Concert Review] Roseate Ensemble: Violas Consort with BMOP

In another masterstroke of imaginative programming for which it is renowned, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, under Music Director Gil Rose, offered a day-late billet-doux to the sultriest member of the string family at Jordan Hall on February 15th. “Voilà! Viola!” consisted of five works featuring the viola, four of them as soloist and one for an ensemble of eight. (one will have to come up with a clever collective noun for this).

The Boston Musical Intelligencer Full review
[Concert Review] It’s “Voilà Viola!” night at Boston Modern Orchestra Project

Why did the contemporary-music orchestra give a concert of five works that all featured the viola?

a. because they wanted to make a pun in French
b. because it was St. Violantine’s Day
c. because there’s some good stuff for viola out there
d. the orchestra ordered up two brand-new viola pieces, never heard before

Boston Classical Review Full review