Neal Gripp

Viola, NYOC alumnus (75-’76)

Appointed principal viola of the l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal in 1990, Neal Gripp is known for his sensitive and intelligent performances of a whole repertory and has been characterized by William Primrose as a “true virtuoso”. He made his recital debut in New York at Town Hall and has since performed in london’s Wigmore Hall, the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris, the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. and in frequent broadcast recitals throughouthis native Canada. His solo performances with orchestra include concerts in Alice Tully Hall and at the Aspen Music Festival where he won the Festival Viola Competition. He has performed as soloist with Charles Dutoit, John Nelson, Gunther Herbig and Bramwell Tovey, with orchestras in Winnipeg and Ottawa as well as l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal with whom he has recorded Berlioz’s Harold In Italy for CBC Television. He has also recorded Glenn Buhr’s Concerto for Viola and Orchestra with Bramwell Tovey and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Neal Gripp holds a doctorate from the Juilliard School of Music where he studied with Lillian Fuchs winning the Juilliard Viola Competition and the Joseph Machlis Prize which recognizes the highest level of excellence in all areas of study. He currently teaches at the University of Montreal and the University of Ottawa. In 2000, he was artistic director of chamber music series at the Getty Center in Los Angeles and is presently artistic director of a similar annual series at the Canadian Centre for Architecture.