Violist Stephanie Block

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Seventeen year old Stephanie Block began studying violin at age four through the Suzuki Music School of Barrington and moved to the Music Institute of Chicago in 2006 to study with Desiree Ruhstrat. She began studying viola with Ms. Ruhstrat in 2007, and is currently principal viola with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and the CYSO Encore Orchestra.

She has been performing with the award winning CYSO “Principal Players” chamber group (S*M*A*K* in 2009-2010 and Schroeder Trio in 2010-2011). Stephanie was selected as a winner in the DePaul Concerto Festival for Young Performers in January, 2011; was a finalist in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Youth auditions, February, 2011; and was a finalist in the CYSO concerto competition in March 2010 and 2011. She was also a top prizewinner in the Society of American Musicians viola competition in 2008 and 2010 and in the James Glacking Young Musicians competition in November, 2010.

She has toured and played in Germany with the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp International Symphony Orchestra, performed in Argentina and Uruguay with the CYSO, and studied in Italy in connection with the Casalmaggiore International Music Festival. Stephanie is a senior at Barrington High School and plays viola in the Barrington HS Chamber Orchestra. She also enjoys competing in triathlons, running, swimming, dancing and playing the piano.

Program: (performed with pianist Mary Drews)

William Walton: Viola Concerto
I. Andante comodo

JS Bach:  Cello Suite No. 3
Prelude
Sarabande
Bourrée
Gigue

Carl Stamitz: Viola Concerto
I.
II.

Alan Hovhaness: Chahagir for solo viola, op. 56

Paul Hindemith: Sonata for viola, op. 25, no. 1

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