Andrea Priester Houde
Associate Professor - Viola; String Area Coordinator
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.
She serves on the artist faculty of the Interlochen Arts Camp and the Master
Players Festival and is a board member of the American Viola Society.
Ms. Houde has performed 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. She has recorded for the Delos, Parma, and Albany record
labels. Her solo album, The American
Viola, features early to contemporary American works for the viola,
including the historic world premiere of the first American viola composition.
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 Festivals at the Colburn School and Oberlin
Conservatory, Quebec Conservatory, Carnegie Mellon University, Vanderbilt’s
Blair School of Music, University of Virginia, Penn State University, Tennessee
Viola Celebration, Virginia Violapalooza, University of Arizona, University of
Georgia, among others. Ms. Houde has presented at four American String Teachers
Association National Conferences and is an active clinician and adjudicator.
She provides community engagement 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.
