It is with profound sadness that we mourn the loss of our beloved colleague, Karen Ritscher. A long-time member of the viola faculty, Karen was an inspiration to all who came in contact with her. She was one of the rare teachers who could touch her students through profound insights, both physical and musical, while supporting their growth as individual artists.
Karen was committed to nurturing the whole musician and encouraged her students to think deeply about music and life. She was a generous and caring teacher who freely shared her wisdom and her love of music with warmth and joy. Her legacy will continue to reverberate in the lives of all who knew her - students, colleagues and friends.
This video shows Ritscher receiving the Maurice Riley Award.