He studied viola with Sanford Schoenbach, William Primrose and Pamela Goldsmith, composition with Byong-yon Kim, conducting with Seiji Ozawa and chamber music with Dominick DiSarro. He holds a doctorate in music education, a masters degree in music performance and music education, two bachelors degrees (history and music) and an advanced diploma in teaching. Dr Vidulich was a UNESCO scholar and has been made a Fellow of the International Biographical Association, UK (FIBA) and is an Associate of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers, NZ (AIRMT).

Dr Vidulich is presently serving his second term as President of the International Viola Society (2005 to 2010) and has been awarded both an IVS Special Award and the IVS Silver Alto Clef for services to the viola. He founded the the Australian and New Zealand Viola Society and was its President from 1982 to 2005, and is now its President Emeritus. He was the Co-Host of the 2001 International Viola Congress held in Wellington and has performed at several International Viola Congresses and ANZVS Viola Conferences. His arrangement of Alfred Hill's Violin Sonata as a Viola Concerto has been recorded on CD.

In 2008 Queen Elizabeth conferred upon Dr Vidulich, the Queen's Service Medal (Q.S.M.) of the Queen's Service Order for his services to music in New Zealand and internationally.

Louise has recently been awarded a PhD from the University of Manchester on the 'Influences on the young Paul Hindemith'. She plays on a French instrument made around 1750, previously belonging to Cecil Aronowitz (the RNCM's first Head of Strings), on whom she is planning to write a biography. Louise is the founder and President of the English Viola Society, started in September 2007.

Ken had an early success in becoming the principal violist of the Interlochen World Youth Symphony. He has taught at Western Illinois University, the Crane School of Music- SUNY Potsdam (Potsdam, NY) and Viterbo College (LaCrosse, WI). As a chamber musician, he has won numerous awards such as first prize at the Coleman, Carmel, MTNA, and Yellow Springs Competitions. He was also a winner of the 1993 Cleveland Quartet Competition as well as a prizewinner at the Bucchi International Competition (Rome).

Ken is a frequent recitalist and has performed intensely challenging programs such as the 4 solo sonatas of Paul Hindemith, and the complete sonatas of Darius Milhaud, also on his CD released by Centaur Records [CRC 2479]. He also has two other discs released by Centaur; viola chamber music of Rebecca Clarke [CRC 2847], and Bohuslav Martinù [CRC 2852]. His article "The Viola Music of Milhaud" was published by the American Viola Society Journal, vol.15, no.1.

Mr. Martinson is active with the American Viola Society, currently serving as Secretary, and he has been serving as an assistant editor of the Journal for the American Viola Society where he has his own column for reviewing new viola compositions and publications. Ken was a featured guest artist at the 1999, 2002, and 2005 International Viola Congresses.

Dr. Kruse currently teaches at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio. During the summers Music, University of Missouri-Kansas City, West Virginia University, Bowling Green State University, the University of Toledo, University of Windsor, University of Western Ontario, William Jewell College, and the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Kruse's students have won positions in major and regional orchestras and teach at colleges, universities and public schools throughout the United States.

Dr. Kruse earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Manhattan School of Music and a Doctorate from Ball State University. He has served as an adjudicator for the William Primrose International Viola Competition, Music Teachers National Association Strings Competition, and the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto, Canada.

Ronald has played in several chamber orchestras and chamber groups. He is currently principal viola in a Bonn chamber orchestra. A couple of years ago he started on the Viola d'amore and on the bass viola and enjoys the discovery of unknown material for these instruments.

He is vice-chairman for the German Viola Society and was president of the International Viola Society for the term of 2002-2004. He was co-chair of the 2003 International Viola Congress held at Kronberg, Germany.

Mr. Solare works as a freelance writer and violist in Berlin, Germany. He has taught at the Music School of the district of Schöneberg, and has coached the viola sections of both the Berlin Youth Orchestra and String Orchestra. He was a member of the Schmalenberg Quartet (1996-99), and is principal viola of the Schaffrath Chamber Orchestra. A member of the GVS and of the Viola d'Amore Society of America, he has performed at the 1986 German Violists' Day and at the 1999, 2004 and 2005 International Viola Congresses. Mr. Solare writes regularly for several prestigious music magazines (among them The Strad and Opera) and is currently preparing a Ph. D. in musicology at the Free University, Berlin.

Max Savikangas

As violist Max is concentrated in contemporary chamber music. He is the founder member of the Uusinta Chamber Ensemble and also performs regurlarly with the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra. Abroad Max has performed in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Holland, Germany, France, Spain, United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia in various concerts, tours, festivals and congresses.

Max is the President of the Finnish Viola Society, member of the Society of Finnish Composers and the interdisciplinary artist association MUU. He was appointed as the executive secretary of the International Viola Society Presidency for the three-year term 2008-2010.

In addition to composing and performing on the viola, Max has been involved in multi-disciplinary co-projects, often utilising technology. He is also very interested in developing the viola - Max plays on a viola model which he has been developing with the Finnish luthier Pekka Mikael Laine since 1998, utilising computer spectral analysis and new varnishing techniques.

Ann Frederking

Ann has been a member of the viola section of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra since 1971 (retiring in May 2010), is principal viola of the Ottawa Chamber Orchestra, and teaches violin and viola. She recently retired as Executive Director of the Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard, an Ottawa-area organization that provides emergency food for about 20,000 people in each year. Ann directs a church handbell choir and is an avid gardener, with a special interest in hostas. Ann also enjoys her grandchildren - boy-girl twins born in 2002 and a new granddaughter born in 2008.