Viola Masterclass with Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt (2025)
Don’t miss seeing one of the world’s leading viola players, Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, as she coaches the four violists of our Young Artist Institute to help them improve their skill and technique. Whether you are a violist or enjoy learning more about how musicians learn and hone their skills, you’ll be inspired watching and hearing the growth that takes place in such a short time with this expert teacher.
Mago Hunt Recital Hall, University of Portland
June 23, 12-2 pm | Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt
This masterclass is sponsored by Joan Levers & David Manhart.
University of Portland, Mago Hunt Recital Hall
Monday, 6/23 • 12:00 pm PT
Artists
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Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt
Viola
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Praised by The Strad magazine as having “lyricism that stood out…a silky tone and beautiful, supple lines,” Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt has established herself as one of the most sought-after violists of her generation. In addition to appearances as soloist with the New York String Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, the Tokyo Philharmonic, the Jacksonville Symphony, the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra, and Symphony in C, she has performed in recitals and chamber-music concerts throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia, including an acclaimed 2011 debut recital at London’s Wigmore Hall, which was described in The Strad as being “fleet and energetic…powerful and focused.”
Ms. Pajaro-van de Stadt was the founding violist of the twice-Grammy-nominated Dover Quartet, and played in the group from 2008-2022. During her time in the group, the Dover Quartet was the First Prize-winner and recipient of every special award at the Banff International String Quartet Competition 2013, and winner of the Gold Medal and Grand Prize in the 2010 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. Also during her tenure, the Dover Quartet received the Cleveland Quartet Award and an Avery Fisher Career Grant. Her numerous awards also include First Prize at the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition and top prizes at the Sphinx Competition and the Tokyo International Viola Competition.
While in the Dover Quartet, Ms. Pajaro-van de Stadt was on the faculty at The Curtis Institute of Music and Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, and a part of the Quartet in Residence of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She is now a member of the newly formed piano quartet, Espressivo!, along with acclaimed artists Jaime Laredo, Sharon Robinson, and Anna Polonsky.