More than 300 participants from all over the world come to the IVC2018 in Rotterdam. Who are they? Why are they coming, and what do they expect from this congress?
In this mini-interview, French violist Anne Caloustian gives us her story.

IVC: Introduce yourself, where you come from and what you do as a violist.

My name is Anne Caloustian, I live in Calais, in the North of France.
Music is my passion since I was a child. For 46 years I’ve been playing and listening to music, I am now 51 years old and it has been such a profound joy to live with music. How lucky we are to interpret all these composers, the more years pass the better I realize that I simply couldn’t live without it.

I studied with Serge Collot in Paris conservatory, then I met Raphael Hillyer and Steven Ansell in Boston University (USA). I got a Fulbright scholarship and studied in USA for three wonderful years. What an incredible experience being abroad! I got back with a master of music in viola performance. Back in France I got the C.A. (French diploma to teach), I’ve been teaching since then, and trying to explore new ways of transmission by working as well with body and perception (tai chi /qi gong ), by breathing exercise etc.

Besides I played with Trio Nausicaa (flute,viola and harp), Opale quartett (string quartet) and I am actually playing sonata Duo Hyousys (which means North in Armenian) with Caroline Duez (piano), and we create performances with painting, poetry, history etc.
I am also performing by myself mixing clown, poetry and viola – my stage name is <Graine de Perle >

IVC: How did you hear about IVC2018, and what made you decide to come?

I heard about IVC Rotterdam thanks to Facebook
What decided me to come was:  New ways of performing. What a great theme!
So thrilled to discover and meet all the people from all over the world

IVC: What are your expectations for IVC 2018, and what part of it are you most looking forward to?

Music is a wonderful way to meet people,
What a great luck that IVC 2018 offer the opportunity to listen to great players and also to people who play differently. It is going to be so much dense, rich and incredible.
Actually it is for me like a dream come true! All these violists all together what a beautiful way of being in peace all of us whatever our difference is.
Thank you so much for making this happen!

More than 300 participants from all over the world come to the IVC2018 in Rotterdam. Who are they? Why are they coming, and what do they expect from this congress?
In this mini-interview, South African composer Franco Prinsloo gives us his story.

IVC: Introduce yourself for our readers?

I am a composer from Pretoria, South Africa. I specialise in the composition of vocal music – choral music, opera and art song. Over the past few years I have been composing a lot of instrumental music as well, especially for the viola and violin. Elmarie van der Vyfer has commissioned me to compose new repertoire for the viola in 2016, and since then a fantastic collaboration between composer and viola player took flight.

2. How did you hear about IVC2018, and what made you decide to come?

In 2016 I collaborated with curator, Elani Willemse, in producing an interdisciplinary art exhibition and concert called “Urban Impressions”. During the concert, Elmarie van der Vyfer premièred my “Sonatina for Viola and piano”. After the concert we decided to create a concert programme “Transcript” in collaboration with composer Pieter Bezuidenhout and pianist Mathilda Horsfeld especially for the IVC2018 and for the 2018 New Music Indaba. New works were composed for the viola and transcriptions made from existing compositions to add to our repertoire for the viola. We created new, fresh South African viola repertoire to showcase at the IVC2018 and give the music an international audience.

What are your expectations for IVC2018, and what part of it are you most looking forward to?

I am extremely excited to attend “Sound Images from Africa: Exposing New and Unknown Repertoire for the Viola”, as part of the programme my newly composed work “Die Gebreekte Snaar” will be premièred. As a composer of contemporary music I believe that it is very important to communicate and collaborate. I looking forward in meeting performers and composers from all over the world and connect through music. The IVC2018 has a packed and interesting line-up. I am super exited to learn and explore more about this fascinating instrument – the viola.

More than 300 participants from all over the world come to the IVC2018 in Rotterdam. Who are they? Why are they coming, and what do they expect from this congress?
In this mini-interview, German Young Delegate Katharina Rußland gives us her story..

IVC: Introduce yourself, where you come from and what you do as a violist.

KR: My name is Katharina Alexandrea Rußland (26) from Schleswig, Germany.
I have completed Bachelor and Master Studies at University of Music Saar, Saarbrücken (Germany). Currently I am an ERASMUS-Exchange student at the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Finland.  I play in different youth and professional orchestras and improving myself to become a professional orchestra musician. Last year I had an internship at Theater und Orchester Heidelberg. I love to play chamber music (especially in unusual casts).

IVC: How did you hear about IVC2018, and what made you decide to come?

KR: When I applied for ERASMUS also in Rotterdam, the viola professor Karin Dolman told me that especially this autumn would be a good time to be in Rotterdam – also because of IVC. I kept this idea in my mind, and when I had a lesson for orchestra excerpts at the Sibelius Academy beginning of September, the teacher from the Finnish national opera told me that she was at IVC some years ago, and that it was a good experience for her. She recommended it warmly to me, and mentioned that other violists from Sibelius Academy are going this year, too.

And another reason is, that my boyfriend studies in The Hague, so we can see each other again! 🙂

IVC: What are your expectations for IVC 2018, and what part of it are you most looking forward to?

KR: I got a place for a master class with Timothy Ridout. It is just a short lesson, but I think it will have a nice impact for my inspiration of interpreting (Schumann’s, ed.) Märchenbilder. I saw him playing Märchenbilder on YouTube, and he plays it really fascinating and warm.
The fact that he is younger than me and gives me a masterclass was strange in the first moment, but we have such a different CV that I am sure to learn so much from his playing. I am really looking forward to this lesson!

Of course, I am also looking forward for all the workshops and concerts specialized for viola. It is a very interesting programme for the whole week and I expect new impulses for improving myself as a musician and personality.

Having the opportunity to meet people from everywhere at IVC is such a gift. In the time of globalization, it is becoming more and more important, that we all stay together and are open- minded for people from other countries and their culture. Our generation has to take responsibility for many global problems, and we can only solve them if we have international friends and grow together. Maybe there would not be EU any longer without projects like IVC. So let us make music as friends, without borders, learn from each other and influence also other fields than just the musicians world.