Faculty Chair Profile

Roger Chase
NMS Viola Faculty Chair
Viola, Callisto Ensemble

Born in London, Roger Chase studied at the Royal College of Music with Bernard Shore and in Canada with Steven Staryk, also working for a short time with the legendary Lionel Tertis. He made his debut with the English Chamber Orchestra in 1979, and in 1987 appeared as a soloist at a Promenade Concert at the the Royal Albert Hall in London.

He has since play ed as a soloist or chamber musician in major cities throughout the United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, the Middle East, India, most of Eastern and all of Western Europe and Scandinavia.

Mr. Chase has been a member of many ensembles including the Nash Ensemble, the London Sinfonietta, the Esterhazy Baryton Trio, the Quartet of London, Hausmusik of London and the London Chamber Orchestra. He has been invited to play as principal viola with every major British orchestra and many others in North America and Europe, including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

Chase has recorded for EMI, CRD, Hyperion, Cala, Virgin and Floating Earth Records, demonstrating his diverse interests by playing with a folk group on an amplified viola, as a soloist on an authentic instrument and as an exponent of the avant-garde. His playing has inspired many composers to write for him; from solo pieces to concertos and chamber works. He has taught at the Royal College of Music, the Guildhall School and the Royal Northern College of Music and at Oberlin College. He is currently on the faculty of the Chicago College of the Performing Arts. This season will see Roger Chase playing and teaching at festivals in the USA, Italy, France and the Netherlands.

If you would like to contact Mr. Chase, please email him at rogerchase@newmusicschool.com.