Karen Ritscher

Karen Ritscher (23 May 1952 – 15 July 2025[1]) was an American violist, educator, and academic.[2]

Performance career

Ritscher served as the principal violist for both the Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and Brooklyn Philharmonic;[3] and the assistant principal viola for the American Composers Orchestra.[4] She performed with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra,[1] the Houston Symphony,[5]New York City Ballet Orchestra, and the New York City Opera Orchestra. Ritscher was a member of the Aureus Piano Quartet the Azure Ensemble as well as playing in many other chamber music ensembles[6][7] and festivals.

As a new music collaborator, Ritscher commissioned and performed new works by composers such as by Chen Yi,[8]Bruce Adolphe, Judith Shatin,[9] and Gabriela Lena Frank.

As a soloist,[10] she performed many recitals,[11] and appeared with the Westchester Philharmonic, the Dallas Chamber Orchestra, the Colonial Symphony of New Jersey, the Texas Music Festival Orchestra, and the Texas Chamber Symphony.[3]

Teaching and legacy

Ritscher served on the faculties of the Manhattan School of Music,[1] Rice University,[12] the Mannes College of Music, Oberlin Conservatory,[13] the Eastman School of Music,[14] Boston University, and as a guest for masterclasses in the United States, Asia, and Europe. She served on the faculty of the Karen Tuttle Coordination Workshop from its inception in 2002.[3]

As an extension of her teaching practice dedicated to movement, Ritscher was also a certified 5Rhythms® Movement teacher,[15] and led workshops and clinics often combining the exploration of movement with the art of self-expression as a musician.

As an academic, Ritscher published many articles on practice, physicality, and performance.[16] She was the string consultant for Madeline Bruser's book, "The Art of Practicing; A Guide to Making Music from the Heart." Additionally, Ritscher co-authored The Karen Tuttle Legacy: A Resource and Guide for Viola Students, Teachers, and Performers (Carl Fischer Music).[17][18]

Selected discography

  • Chen Yi & Karen Tanaka. Invisible Curve. Azure Ensemble (Susan Glaser, Airi Yoshioka, Karen Ritscher, Pitnarry Shin, Christopher Oldfather). New World Records, 1998.[19]
  • Steve Kuhn. Steve Kuhn With Strings – Promises Kept. Conducted and orchestrated by Carlos Franzetti. ECM, 2004

References

  1. ^ abc"In Memoriam: Karen Ritscher (1952–2025)" (Press release). Manhattan School of Music. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  2. ^Ritscher, Karen (1993-11-01). "An Interview with Karen Tuttle". American String Teacher. 43 (4): 86–90. doi:10.1177/000313139304300434. ISSN 0003-1313.
  3. ^ abc"Obituary: violist Karen Ritscher (1952-2025)". The Strad. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  4. ^"Violist Karen Ritscher and Harpsichordist Webb Wiggins Join Oberlin Faculty | Playbill". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2021-10-17. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  5. ^Prakash, Santosh (September 23, 2005). "Ritscher, Wiggins appointed to Con". The Oberlin Review. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  6. ^Ross, Alex (1992-12-08). "Classical Music in Review". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  7. ^Ross, Alex (1994-06-16). "IN PERFORMANCE: CLASSICAL MUSIC". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  8. ^"Chen-Yi/Karen Tanaka: Invisible Curve". New World Records. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  9. ^"2013 Artist Faculty Concert Series | Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival". gmcmf.org. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  10. ^Will Crutchfield (1988-04-10). "Debuts; Recitals by a Soprano, A Violist and a Guitarist". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-09-16.
  11. ^"Music Listings". The New York Times. 2004-02-15. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  12. ^"FACULTY AND GUEST ARTIST RECITAL KAREN RITSCHER, viola JEFFREY COHEN, piano (guest) Thursday, February 11, 1999 8:00 p.m. Lillian H. Duncan Recital Hall". Rice Research Repository. 1999-02-11.
  13. ^"Oberlin Conservatory Magazine :: 2006". www2.oberlin.edu. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  14. ^Chiang, Victoria; Ritscher, Karen (1993-02-01). "Team Teaching". American String Teacher. 43 (1): 58–60. doi:10.1177/000313139304300121. ISSN 0003-1313.
  15. ^"5Rhythms Teachers | Karen Ritscher". 5RHYTHMS. January 1, 2010. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  16. ^Ritscher, Karen (1993-05-01). "The "Holistic" Bow Arm". American String Teacher. 43 (2): 59–60. doi:10.1177/000313139304300218. ISSN 0003-1313.
  17. ^"The Karen Tuttle Legacy". www.carlfischer.com. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  18. ^Solare, Carlos Maria. "Book review: The Karen Tuttle Legacy. A Resource and Guide for Viola Students, Teachers and Performers". The Strad. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  19. ^"Chen-Yi/Karen Tanaka: Invisible Curve". New World Records. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
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