Acclaimed Violist Visits YMS

We were thrilled to welcome internationally renowned violist Lars Anders Tomter to the Yehudi Menuhin School for a day of inspiring masterclasses with our pupils. 

Tomter, widely considered one of the leading violists of his generation, was born in Hamar, Norway, and began playing the violin at the age of eight. He later studied both violin and viola under Professor Leif Jørgensen, continuing his musical education with Max Rostal and Sándor Vegh. His international breakthrough came after winning the Maurice Vieux International Competition in 1986, followed by a major solo tour of the U.S. and Germany in 1987/88 with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra. 

Tomter’s acclaimed recording of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante was hailed by Gramophone as the finest available, and his performance career has taken him to world-class venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Vienna Musikverein. He is known not only for his deep interpretations of the classical repertoire but also for championing contemporary works, including Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Illuminatio. He currently serves as the artistic director of Norwegian Fjord Classics and holds a professorship in viola at State Academy in Oslo. 

YMS Pupils Rodrigo, Bobbie, Shan Ga, Jasper and Emma were delighted to have the opportunity to learn from an expert in the field and during his visit, they performed a number of challenging pieces including Max Reger’s Suite for Solo Viola and a chamber music session of Antonín Dvořák’s Terzetto in C major, receiving insightful and detailed feedback from Lars on interpretation, style, and technical execution.  

Reflecting on his time visiting the school, Lars said he was “struck by the beauty of the place”. “Music is one of those things where level doesn't follow age necessarily” he stated, though he admitted that when working with young musicians “some sort of pedagogy sneaks in whether you want it or not”. 

We extend our sincere thanks to Lars and his team for making this exceptional visit possible. We look forward to future collaborations and further opportunities to inspire our young musicians.