The Music Masters Series (put on by the Central Oregon Symphony Association) brings renowned guest musicians to Central Oregon. Our upcoming event spotlights the violin and viola, with renowned violinist Casey Bozell and violist Darian Todd offering both a masterclass and a recital. The masterclass is tailored for violin and viola students seeking to enhance their skills, while the recital is open to all. Both events are free and open to the public.
Saturday, November 23rd at 10 am - 12 pm | Wille Hall | COCC
Violin Seminar and Masterclass
Saturday, November 23rd at 7 pm | Wille Hall | COCC
Recital
You are welcome to attend either the masterclass, the recital, or both.
Charismatic violinist and presenter Casey Bozell offers performances and music experiences which engage and inspire audiences across the Pacific Northwest. Her bold and colorful playing “draws out strong emotions” (The Linfield Review) and casts new light on traditional repertoire. As a presenter, Casey shares a magnetic enthusiasm for music which, when coupled with her approachable and cheerful personality, widens and deepens audiences and their connection to classical music.
Casey is the concertmaster of the Newport Symphony and is also a member of the Portland Opera Orchestra and Oregon Ballet Theater. Recent solo engagements include appearances with the Newport Symphony, Beaverton Symphony, Linfield Chamber Orchestra, and the Central Oregon Chamber Orchestra as well as guest artist recitals at the University of Northern Colorado, Eastern Oregon University, and Linfield College. An adept chamber musician, Casey is a founding member of the Hammers and Bows piano trio and Element String Quartet. Committed to exploring new possibilities for her instrument within the context of what it means to be Oregonian, Casey has commissioned six new compositions by talented local composers. Among her world premiere performances are compositions by Thomas Barber, Amelia Bierly, Douglas Detrick, and Nora Ryan.
Her series of classical music performance/presentations, “Casey on Classical,” offers a fast and fresh new take on the concert experience, combining entertainment with education and audience-centered design for maximum delight. These fascinating shows cover a wide variety of intriguing topics cherry-picked from the world of classical music, and broken down in inventive, relatable ways. As the Newport Symphony News noted, “Her enthusiasm was infectious…(and she) had no difficulty holding my attention.” Casey’s offerings expand this spring by way of a feisty podcast titled “Keep Classical Weird,” launching May 1st.
Passionate about developing creativity and musical literacy in young people, she serves on the faculty of the Young Musicians and Artists summer camp (since 2010), and was a Violin and Viola Instructor at Concordia University for ten years where she directed the Concordia University String Ensemble. Past positions also include teaching at Corban, Pacific and Marylhurst Universities. Her students have participated in the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Pro-Arte Youth Orchestra, Oregon All-State Orchestra, and have won college scholarships and concerto competitions across the Pacific Northwest region.
Casey’s greatest mentors include Gerardo Ribeiro, Richard Fuchs, and Harold Wippler. She received her Bachelors of Music Performance from the University of Northern Colorado, and her Masters of Music Performance from Northwestern University. She plays on an 1874 Frederic Diehl violin.
Darian Todd is a violist and educator, who has been performing and teaching in Arizona and Oregon since 2008, and is currently the orchestra teacher at Lake Oswego Middle School, District Program Coordinator for Elementary Strings in the Lake Oswego School District, and conductor of the Portland Chamber Strings with Metropolitan Youth Symphony. Mr. Todd strives to provide students with the tools and skills necessary for an evolving and changing musical world; instill practices that create independent musicians; foster a love of life-long musicianship and sharing; and build a community of musicians who support their colleagues and respect their audiences. Performing highlights have included master class performances for Larry Dutton, Rebecca Fisher, and the Pacifica String Quartet, as well performing with various orchestras including The Vancouver Symphony, The Arizona Repertory Theatre, and the Portland Festival Symphony. Through partnerships with Young Musicians and Artists, Metropolitan Youth Symphony, and local symphony orchestras, Mr. Todd works to initiate more active involvement of students and parents in the artistic communities where he teaches, and advocates for the importance of music in our schools.
Mr. Todd holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Arizona, and a Master of Music in Music Performance with an emphasis in Violin and Viola Pedagogy from the University of Oregon.