Principal Viola
The Schlegel Chair

Michael Isaac Strauss has served as principal violist of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra since 1994.  He performs around the world as a soloist, chamber and symphonic musician.  He made his solo debut with the Minnesota Orchestra.  Formerly a member of the distinguished Fine Arts Quartet, Strauss has performed at the Schleswig-Holstein and Montpellier festivals in Europe.  In North America he has performed at the LaJolla, Caramoor and Banff festivals and appears on chamber music series throughout the United States. 

Strauss made the debut recording of Jennifer Higdon’s Viola Sonata (I Virtuosi), and recorded David Finko’s Viola Concerto with Orchestra 2001 (CRI) and Mozart’s complete viola quintets with the Fine Arts Quartet (Lyrinx), in addition to several CDs of 20th century chamber music works with the Philadelphia-based Orchestra 2001.  In 2007, Centaur released a CD featuring his performances of Stamitz’s works for solo viola with orchestra. He recently recorded the official CD for the Suzuki Association of the Americas Viola School Volume 8 released in Fall 2008.

Strauss’ work has been honored with the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Cinnamon Award, Artist Fellowship Awards from South Carolina and Indiana, First Prize of the WAMSO Competition of the Minnesota Orchestra, and the Ealing prize at the Tertis International Viola Competition.  He is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and performs on a viola made by Matteo Albani from Bolzano, Italy in 1704.

Assistant Principal Viola

Beverly Scott was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, and earned M.M. degrees in both viola and piano at Indiana University. His major teachers have included Georges Janzer and Laurie Kennedy on viola and Jorge Bolet and Hans Graf on piano. Prior to joining the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as assistant principal viola in 1981, he played in the Costa Rican National Symphony for three seasons.

With his brother, ISO cellist Perry, his sister-in-law, ISO violinist Lisa, and his wife, a pianist, he is part of the Scott Chamber Players, an active chamber music group. He and his wife are the parents of two sons. Away from music, Scott likes sports and is a talented tennis and softball player.

Viola

Nancy Agres has been a member of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra since 1987. A native of Spokane, Washington, she earned a B.M. degree from Indiana University and also studied for two years at Boston University. Her major teachers include David Dawson, Bernard Zaslav and Roman Totenberg. Before coming to Indianapolis, Ms. Agres played in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and was principal violist of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.

She has been heard often as a chamber musician, principally with the Ronen Chamber Ensemble, Suzuki and Friends and the Peaceful Valley Chamber Players. Currently a member of the Executive Board of Local 3 of the American Federation of Musicians, Ms. Agres has been a member of the Orchestra Committee, including two terms as Chair, and has often been the Orchestra’s delegate to the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians. The winner of the 1997 Patch Leadership Award, she is actively involved in the Orchestra’s educational programs as a section coach for Side by Side and an Artist in Schools performer.

She and her husband, a visual artist and contrabassist, are the parents of one daughter. When not involved in music, Ms. Agres enjoys gardening and walking her dog.

Viola

Ruth Critchley Boerner became a member of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1970. The native of Buffalo, New York, attended the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati and graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts. Her major teachers included Emile Simonel, Jerry Horner, Peter Kamnitzer and Scott Nickrenz. While in North Carolina, she played with orchestras in Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Asheville.

In Indianapolis Ms. Boerner performs with the Dantay String Quartet and many recording studio sessions. She and her husband, ISO contrabassist Henry W. “Bud” Boerner III, are the parents of three children. Off-stage, she enjoys gardening, walking and traveling.

Viola - Acting Assistant Principal

Amy Kniffen became a member of the viola section of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in May 1998. Born in Charlotte, NC, she grew up in Spartanburg, SC. She holds B.M. and M.M. degrees from Temple University and has also studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her major teachers have included Robert Vernon, Emanuel Vardi and Leonard Mogill. Before joining the ISO, Ms. Kniffen played in the New World Symphony in Florida and the Ohio Chamber Orchestra.

She has served as section coach with the ISO’s Side by Side program and, along with other ISO colleagues, is a member of the string quartet called Quattra. Away from music she enjoys dinner parties, world history, roller blading and reading Jane Austen novels. She is married to ISO principal tuba Anthony Kniffen.

Viola

Terry Langdon joined the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1979, holding the title of associate principal viola until 2002 when she elected to move into the section. Born in New York City, she earned a B.M. from Indiana University and an M.M. from Yale University and has studied with Georges Janzer and Raphael Hillyer. Before coming to Indianapolis, she was principal viola with the Owensboro Symphony and played in the viola sections of the Buffalo Philharmonic, the New Haven Symphony and the Aspen Festival Orchestra.

She is a member of the Linden String Quartet and assists the ISO’s education programs as an Artist in Schools and a Side by Side section coach. Ms. Langdon is married to a biology professor, and they are the parents of three children. She is active as a volunteer at her church and her children’s schools. Knitting, sewing, cooking and running provide additional enjoyable moments for her.

Viola

Eva Lieberman was born in Teplice in the Czech Republic and received her musical training at the Prague Conservatory. She studied with Vladimir Reiser in Prague and, after coming to the United States, with Daniel Majeske in Cleveland and Alan DeVeritch in Los Angeles. Very active as a performer in the Los Angeles area, she played with the La Jolla Chamber Orchestra and the San Diego Symphony before joining the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1981.

The mother of two children, Ms. Lieberman is an avid reader and also enjoys gardening and knitting. She often appears in area chamber music ensembles including Suzuki & Friends and the Ronen Chamber Ensemble.

Viola

Sheldon Person grew up in Edmonton, Alberta and earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Alberta, but only after changing his major from English to music.

“Although I had been taking violin lessons from age 3-1/2, I didn’t take music seriously until my second year of college,” Sheldon said. “I knew at the time that my heart was in music and I had to pursue that. And then I made up for lost time by staying in college for the next 10 years—I needed time to practice!”

 Sheldon then received his Master’s from Rice University, a post-graduate diploma from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England, and his Performer Diploma from Indiana University in May of 2008. In London, Sheldon performed on BBC Radio and at venues including Wigmore Hall, the South Bank Centre, the Brighton Festival and Buckingham Palace.  Person also has performed with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Edmonton Symphony, several orchestras at Aspen, the European Academies Symphony Orchestra and the Rice University Orchestra in Houston under the baton of frequent ISO guest conductor, Larry Rachleff.

 

Viola

Stephanie Tong was born in Taiwan and was a scholarship student on violin at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, studying with Lorand Fenyves, and at McGill University in Montreal, under the tutilege of Denise Lupien. She switched to viola in 1997 and earned an M.M. degree from Northern Illinois University where she worked with the Vermeer Quartet. She has also studied with Li-Kuo Chang and Lisa Boyko.

Before coming to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 2000, Ms. Tong played in the Illinois Symphony, the Rockford Symphony, the Beloit Janesville Symphony Orchestra and the Louisville Orchestra. Married to ISO cellist Jian-Wen Tong, she enjoys playing piano, drawing, traveling and reading.