Peter Minkler, Viola

photo by Christian Colberg

Chamber Music Performances:

October 28, 2012
April 7, 2013

Peter Minkler is heralded by The Baltimore Sun as an inspiring artist who “makes the viola sing.…”  Awarded the prestigious $25,000 Mary Sawyers Baker Prize in 2010, this lucrative non-discretionary award is given to individual artists living and working in the Baltimore region.  Chosen via a privately juried process out of nearly 500 nominees, this honor firmly secures his reputation as a musician of rare communicative warmth and possessing eloquent depth of expression.  In addition, he is a two-time recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council’s Individual Artist Award in Classical Music Solo Performance.  These grants, awarded by jury selection every three years, are based upon artistic excellence. 

Mr. Minkler began his undergraduate instruction with Robert Vernon at the Cleveland Institute of Music and earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Francis Tursi.  He also participated in master classes at the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada with Lillian Fuchs, Donald McInnes and William Primrose.

A longtime member of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, he also holds the position of Principal Viola of the Baltimore Choral Arts Society Orchestra.  Prior to his arrival in Baltimore, he served as Associate Principal Viola with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

He has appeared as soloist not only with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on several occasions, but also with the Orchestra of St. Johns, Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra, The Columbia Orchestra, Baltimore Choral Arts Society and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and was the featured artist at the Finger Lakes Bach Festival in Ithaca, NY.  As soloist, he has worked with such distinguished conductors as Tom Hall, Raymond Harvey, Daniel Hege, Marvin Hamlisch and Andrew Constantine. 

An avid and versatile musician, Mr. Minkler is also highly sought as recitalist and chamber musician.  He has performed extensively throughout the Baltimore region and is a regular guest artist on numerous established local series including:  Musical Mondays, An die Musik LIVE!, Music in the Great Hall, Sundays at Central Concert Series, Sundays at Three Chamber Music Series and Chamber Music by Candlelight, a series he co-founded at the Second Presbyterian Church.  Other appearances include an exhibition and recital at the Baltimore Museum of Art, the University of Maryland, Chamber Music UB: The BSO Musicians Series, a series he developed and coordinated in conjunction with the University of Baltimore and musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and the BSO Summer MusicFest.  Nationally, he has been a featured artist at the 2012 40th International Viola Congress held in Rochester, NY and presented recitals at both Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA and the Channing Concert Series in Houston, TX.  At the invitation of Mrs. George Rochberg, he also presented a recital Dunwoody Retirement Village in Newtown Square, PA.  Throughout the years, Mr. Minkler has collaborated with many luminaries including violinists Pinchas Zukerman, Stephan Jackiw and Victor Costanzi, cellist Ralph Kirschbaum, flutist Toshiko Kohno, harpists Rita Costanzi and Elizabeth Hainen, percussionist David DePeters and pianists Jonathan Biss, Lura Johnson and Max Levinson.  More recently, he has begun exploring new and innovative ways to express himself and has worked in partnership with Shodekeh, a human beat boxer, award winning jazz saxophonist, Carl Grubbs, and modern dancer, Naoko Meshiba.

In addition to his private teaching studio, Mr. Minkler, a devoted pedagogue, has presented a viola composition seminar at the Peabody Conservatory of Music; coached adult chamber music participants of the BSO Summer Academy, regularly coached the viola section of the Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestra and has presented numerous master classes for students of all ages and abilities in a variety of formats, cities and settings, including the Hoff Barthelson Music School in Scarsdale, NY, East Aurora High School, East Aurora, NY, and the aforementioned Northwestern State University.

Mr. Minkler’ first solo CD entitled, Viola Seul:  Works for unaccompanied viola, is a compilation of seven works that showcase the extraordinary qualities of the oft-maligned viola.  The project received critical acclaim and affirms his artistry and command of the instrument.  “Minkler’s playing is…thoroughly musical, insightful, witty, and highly nuanced…this album is likely to please anyone interested in solo string works or just solid, unpretentious, musical artistry.” allmusic.com.  

“Inner Voice”, his second project recorded in collaboration with pianist, Lura Johnson, features powerful works by Britten, Rochberg, Pärt and Shostakovich.  This CD has also received high praise from critics:  Carlos María Solare of The Strad writes, “Britten’s Lachrymae…is given an unusually well-structured performance that goes beyond superficial tonal beauties to reveal the score’s constitutive elements.  While listening I felt that this is how William Primrose – the piece’s dedicatee – might have played it….”

In 2012 he was nominated for, and served on, the Maryland State Arts Council Review Panel (MSAC).  As one of nine discipline-based panelists, he played a significant role in the grants process through his expert recommendations to MSAC. 

Presently, Mr. Minkler has commissioned a major new work for viola, chorus and orchestra by world renowned composer, Jonathan Leshnoff.  Based upon the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe, the oratorio is scheduled for premiere in 2014 by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic with Music Director Andrew Constantine.  He is also actively seeking other contemporary composers with whom he can work so that together, they can create exciting new music that showcases the viola.