News: New Principal Viola For The Vienna Philharmonic

The solo (principal) viola position in the VPO, held until recently by Heinrich Koll, was won this morning at audition by Gerhard Marschner, 32. Gerhard, Vienna born, has been stimmführer (associate leader) of the viola section for some years. He was appointed to the opera orchestra at 19 and to the philharmonic three years later, having studied with  Alfred Staar, who taught around 20 members of the orchestra. (via)]]>