ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
There are many people I wish to thank for their assistance in the preparation of
this document. First, I am extremely appreciative for the time Libby Larsen took out of
her busy schedule on two occasions to meet with me. Her enthusiasm for my project and
thoughtful responses to my questions has played a critical role in my development of the
ideas in this thesis. I wish to thank all of my teachers at The Shepherd School, especially
Dr. Karim Al-Zand, my thesis director, for all of his helpful comments and
encouragement. As I worked on this project in Illinois I was extremely grateful for his
speedy feedback, and realize how fortunate I am to have an advisor who has been so
involved and interested in my progress. Thank you to James Dunham for welcoming me
into his studio, for taking time during my visits both to Houston and Aspen to give me
lessons on the Viola Sonata and Sifting through the Ruins, for helping me in the
preparation of the errata list and selected fingerings found in Appendixes C and D, and
for serving on my committee. Thank you also to Dr. Walter Bailey and Dr. Gregory
Kaplan for agreeing to serve on my committee. I wish to thank Karen Ritscher, my viola
professor from 2004-2006, both for her insightful teaching and for her continued support
of my professional career. Additionally, special thanks to Dr. Richard Lavenda for
helping me negotiate the challenges of completing the degree while teaching in Illinois.
On the administrative end, Maya Nuesell and Suzanne Taylor assisted with the technical
aspects of this process.
I would also like to thank all of my colleagues at Illinois State University for their
support and encouragement, in particular Dr. Paul Borg, Dr. Adriana Ransom, Dr. Sarah