Cleveland Orchestra Principal Viola ROBERT VERNON will retire from the orchestra in the summer of 2016 after 40 seasons. He is the longest-tenured string principal in the orchestra’s history, and will assume the title of principal emeritus upon his retirement. In November 2015 he will appear as soloist, along with First Assistant Principal Viola Lynne Ramsey, in the world premiere of a Cleveland Orchestra-commissioned work: Richard Sortomme’s Concerto for Two Violas and Orchestra on Themes from Smetana’s String Quartet No. 1, “From My Life.” During his Cleveland Orchestra career Vernon has recorded more than 300 works, appeared as soloist in 17 works, and performed in scores of tour concerts across the U.S., Canada, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is a longtime faculty member at the Cleveland Institute of Music and also teaches at The Juilliard School, his alma mater. His former students hold positions in more than 50 major orchestras in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Posted March 6, 2015
