Andrea Priester Houde is an American
violist whose genuine love and dedication to her craft can be seen in
performances around the world and in the unique environment of her teaching
studio. Ms. Houde is Assistant Professor of Viola at West Virginia University
and violist of the WVU Chamber Players. She has serves on the artist faculty of
the Interlochen Arts Camp and the Master Players Music Festival and is a board
member of the American Viola Society.
Ms. Houde has played as soloist, chamber
musician, and in orchestras in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Her
versatility has led to such opportunities as performing tango with Astor
Piazzolla’s godson and playing in a rock band on the Millennium Stage at the
Kennedy Center. Chamber music collaborations include a world premiere for the
American Viola Society with George Taylor and other performances with violinists
Jonathan Carney, Igor Yuzefovich, James Stern, Renata Knific, Hagai Shaham;
cellists Ross Harbaugh and Nicholas Tzavares; and bassist DaXun Zhang.
Ms. Houde has a zeal for teaching and pedagogy that equals that of her performances. She was formerly on the faculty at the University of Delaware and has given performances and master classes at the International Viola Congress in New Zealand, the American Viola Society Festival at Oberlin Conservatory, Quebec Conservatory, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Virginia, Penn State University, Tennessee Viola Celebration, Virginia Violapalooza, University of Arizona, University of Georgia, among others. Ms. Houde has presented at three American String Teachers Association National Conferences and is an active clinician and adjudicator. She provides outreach through hosting Viola Days at West Virginia University and directing the WVU Viola Bootcamp. Studies were at the University of Memphis with Lenny Schranze and at the Peabody Conservatory with Victoria Chiang. Other teachers include Heidi Castleman, Jeffrey Irvine, Mark Jackobs, and David Holland. Pedagogy studies were with Rebecca Henry and Drs. Laura and Harlan Parker.
