Olivia Palazzolo, age 17, and Blair alumna Dana Kelley, B.Mus. ’12, depart for the Primrose International Viola Competition on Saturday June 7. They are two of just 30 violists ages 15-29 selected to compete in the live rounds of the competition. Their fellow quarter-finalists are from Australia, Canada, China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The 14th Primrose International Viola Competition (PIVC) and 35th Anniversary Festival take place June 8-14 at the illustrious Colburn School in downtown Los Angeles. One of the most renowned string instrument competitions in the world, celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2014, the PIVC features the world’s best young violists.
Palazzolo is a precollege viola student of Kathryn Plummer. Kelley studied viola with Kathryn Plummer and violin with Cornelia Heard while at Vanderbilt. She is now pursuing her master’s degree at the New England Conservatory of Music under violist Kim Kashkashian.
Quarterfinals are June 9-10
Semifinals are June 11-12
Final Round is June 14
Follow the competition live at www.primrosecompetition.org.
Good luck, Olivia and Dana!