|
The American violinist and conductor, Olev L. Viro, was born in the USA to parents who were both from Estonia. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Harpur College, State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton (1973-1977); his Master of Music degree in Violin Performance, Chamber Music, Conducting from New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, , where he studied violin with Eric Rosenblith and conducting with Richard Pittman (1978-1980). He also studied Chamber Music, Conducting at Syracuse University, as Graduate Assistant - full scholarship and stipend, where he also played with Syracuse Symphony, Syracuse Camerata (1980-1982).
Olev Viro was principal second of the Knoxville Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, Concertmaster of 1983 Spoleto Opera Orchestra and a member of the Syracuse Symphony as well as member of Graduate Resident Piano Trio at Syracuse University before coming to Columbus. He has been a full-time violinist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra since September 1984 and is active as a violinist, conductor, teacher, and coach. Currently part time with the CSO, he also performs regularly with Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra and the New Albany Symphony. In 2017, he founded the Hilliard Bach Ensemble.
Olev Viro has been Violin Instructor on the adjunct faculty of Capital, Otterbein and Denison universities and Visiting Conductor at Denison University (September 2008-May 2009); Assistant Conductor at Ohio Valley Synphony (August 2009-May 2010); Teacher at Hilliard Community Music School (2009-2011).
After guest conducting and solo appearances with the Upper Arlington Community Orchestra (UACO), Olev Viro became the Music Director of that orchestra in the Fall of 1999. In early 2008 the UACO renamed itself as the Greater Columbus Community Orchestra to better reflect it’s identity and role in the community. Under his guidance, the orchestra has commissioned and premiered numerous works, and continued its mission of developing awareness of orchestral music in Central Ohio. In 1996, UACO commissioned Francis Sibley to compose Suite for Jazz Violin and Orchestra, which Viro premiered. Since then the orchestra has premiered several works of Tubin and Mägi and has commissioned a number of new pieces including compositions by Ching-chu Hu, Donald Harris and others. In March 2009, he led the premiere of Pirke Avot: Sayings of the Fathers a 14 movement jazz cantata in Hebrew and English for vocal soloists, choir, jazz trio and symphony orchestra by Mark Kross commissioned by the orchestra.
Olev Viro is a member of the International Tubin Society and the Conductors Guild, participating in workshops with Harold Farberman and Raymond Harvey. He participated in the New Hampshire Music Festival (NHMF) from 1978 until 2008. He was assistant conductor of the Oak Ridge Symphony and has guest-conducted the Knoxville Chamber Orchestra, Knox College Orchestra and Choir, and Syracuse University Orchestra, among other groups.
Olev Viro is the creator and leader of the Sonus Artis project, giving musical programs and outreach in both Ohio and Estonia with previous support from the Ohio Arts Council. The project has collaborated with universities, churches, schools, arts organizations and other private and public institutions. Sonus Artis has helped produce varied concerts, numerous commissions, several tours and helped bring Suzuki pedagogy to Estonia as well as Estonian culture to Ohio.
Olev is also a licensed Insurance Agent in Ohio. He was an employee of International Risk Consultants, Inc. where he brokered cTrade Credit and Political Risk Insurance (December 2008-April 2009). Since April 2019, he works in Client Services, Business Development at JZJ / Aria Insurance Services, Inc. in Columbus, Ohio. He currently lives in Columbus, Ohio. He married the soprano Jean Margaret Johnson on September 4, 2016.. |
