Rose Armbrust-Griffin

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February 2025 View more

This Wheaton violist takes the DSO stage in February

Rose Armbrust-Griffin

In Rose Armbrust-Griffin’s family, the viola is no second fiddle.

Her two older brothers are also professional violists; she herself started out on the instrument when she was 2. Later came Juilliard and the Curtis Institute and Indiana University.

The viola has taken this Wheaton resident all over the world—Colombia, Germany, France, Austria, the Netherlands, China—and given her a chance to play with some legends—Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, and Rachel Barton Pine, to name a few. (Perlman even penned her a handwritten letter of recommendation.)

These days she teaches viola and music history at Wheaton College (her 13th year!) and subs with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She’s also the associate conductor of the Naperville Youth Symphony Orchestra.

On Feb. 16, you can catch her as a guest soloist for the DuPage Symphony Orchestra’s “Beyond Beautiful” concert at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville. She’ll be performing Cecil Forsyth’s Viola Concerto, which premiered in 1903. “The literal translation of ‘concerto’ means to ‘strive together,’ ” she explains, “and this piece wonderfully shows the musical relationship between orchestra and viola soloist.”

We recently had a chance to ask Armbrust-Griffin about her musical career.

Q: Why the viola? What do you love about it?
A: It’s an incredibly unique instrument in that at the beginning of its life it was used to bridge the gap in sound between a soprano voice—often the violin—and the basso continuo [cello].The instrument has gone on to establish itself as a solo instrument, but because of where it started, we violists can easily bounce between supportive and dominant playing.

My favorite thing about playing the viola is how deep and resonant the lowest string is and the ability to create so many different colors and emotions as I play. It’s an outlet for when I’m angry, supportive when I’m sad, and just so fun when the energy is high.

When I play, I’m always having a conversation. The fun is discovering who I’m talking to and especially the context. I’m an extrovert and love to be around people, so considering that I’m interacting with others as I play is very inspirational.

Q: What’s most challenging about playing the viola?
A: The technique. Perfect intonation, perfect tempos, perfect dynamics, perfect execution. The neat thing is that perfection doesn’t exist, so while I try my hardest and spend so much time on a particular section of music, I find it comforting that it’s OK for an error.

I also think about believability when I play. Does this sound sincere? Does this phrase make sense? For me though, I love these challenges. I don’t shy away from the hard stuff. Well, the only time I remember questioning if I could pull off a piece was when I was playing Milton Babbitt’s Composition for Twelve Instruments, eight months pregnant, and I sobbed to my husband that I didn’t think I could do it. That piece is insanely hard, and I was working with Cliff Colnot—whom I greatly admire—and his only option is perfection. Suffice to say, I overcame the self-doubt and played the concert.

Q: What about teaching?
A: With all of the different avenues I’ve gone down in music, the center of my heart is in education. Specifically higher education…As a teacher, you learn that you are teaching more than just music. Each human is so unique and interesting, it’s just so fun to discover music together.

Q: What advice to you have for students wanting to pursue a career in music?
A: Be hungry. Have an appetite for music that cannot be easily satiated. Be a detective. Be curious. Say “yes!” Be respectful, lean on your elders for sage advice while coupling that with your own curiosities. Delve into history. Find context. Make it make sense. You only get to live once, don’t waste your time. Art is learning about yourself and the incredible you that you are. Be proud. Again, say “yes!”

 

Photo: Rose Armbrust-Griffin