Selected Violists
Sherry Lin-Yu Chen
Professor, Aletheia University
Former Principal Violist, Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra
“Kelvin Scott is without a doubt one of the great luthiers of our time. Having searched for a smaller viola (15.5 inches) that had the perfect combination of power, sound and response, I was very fortunate to find Kelvin’s viola. It is such a joy to play his instrument. In addition to a beautiful tone, it is satisfyingly rich and meaty on the bottom, and brilliant in the upper register. It is easy to play and I appreciate its evenness across all four strings. I applaud his artistry and admire his accomplishments in the work he has so faithfully and masterfully created.”
eugene Kaler
“I am very much in love with, and continuously impressed by the viola I have acquired from Kelvin Scott. Its gorgeous and mellifluous sound, coupled with a sonorous projection and quick response, make it a reliable and dependable instrument and an absolute joy to play. This particular model, made in the classic Brecian style, has a larger body and a relatively shorter string length, lending an ease to performing and practicing that is an exciting addition to its robust tone and invigorating timbre.“
Born in the former Soviet Union into a family of musicians, Eugene immigrated to the United States just in the nick of time, and by the age of 7 had convinced his parents to allow him to take up the violin. Eugene graduated from the prestigious Baltimore School for the Arts and moved to Chicago where he studied at DePaul University, earning his BM and MM in violin performance. Along with an Artist Diploma from Long Island Conservatory, Eugene set out to travel the world, performing with both national and international tours of award-winning musicals such as West Side Story, Annie, Bridges of Madison County, and Kinky Boots. Eugene acquired Kelvin Scott’s Viola just before departing with Lincoln Center Stage to perform on Holland America Line’s Westerdam in the mediterranean. He has toured Europe performing a symphonic celebration of the music of Prince, and spent 10 weeks performing in the People’s Republic of China. Prior to the advent of the international pandemic, Eugene was the concertmaster of the National Tour of Dear Evan Hansen. An avid improviser, painter, and actor, Eugene has collaborated with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Ilya Kaler, David Barenboim, Chick Corea, Alexander Markov, Yana Reznik, and Christopher Meloni. Eugene currently resides in Chicago and spends his time performing on and composing for the Viola and Violin.
Tonya Burton
“I’ve loved my viola since first picking it up in 2012! I was initially attracted to its complexity and depth of sound, and have since been grateful for how thoughtfully Kelvin crafted the instrument for playability.“
Tonya Burton can be found performing in diverse venues across the United States. She has been a guest artist for the Houston Viola Society, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Texas Lutheran University and has been featured on the All Classical Portland 89.9 station as well as the Los Angeles KCRW 89.9 station.
An avid chamber musician, Tonya is a core member of KINETIC, both performing and programming for the Houston-based ensemble known for showcasing diverse and under-represented classical music. She is also a founding member of the D.C. based Natonya duo, plays with the Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra in Los Angeles and performs annually at the Caroga Lake Music Festival in the Adirondacks of New York.
Tonya recently released her debut solo album featuring the works of Max Reger under the Tonsehen label. Currently, she is pursuing a Doctorate in Musical Arts at the University of Maryland while serving as teaching assistant to Katherine Murdock. She received a Master’s in Music from Rice University and a Bachelor’s in Music at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
