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. 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 Festivals at the Colburn School and 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 four 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.
