Lillian Fuchs: First Lady of the Viola

Throughout her long and illustrious career, Lillian Fuchs was lauded as one of the first great American violists. This penetrating study of Ms. Fuchs's professional life as a performer, teacher, composer, arranger, and chamber music coach offers a fascinating view of this remarkable personality. whose professional life influenced countless musicians. Based upon conversations with Ms. Fuchs and members of her family, interviews with former students and colleagues, and concert reviews, Lillian Fuchs: First Lady of the Viola draws together oral and written information to create a biographical portrait that also sheds light on the history of American music in the twentieth century-a time when talented women had to struggle fiercely to survive in the face of male domination of the music profession.

The writing of this book took place over the course of several years when the author was studying the viola with Lillian Fuchs. His weekly conversations provided a wealth of anecdotal stories, many of them publicly shared here, with Ms. Fuchs?s consent, for the first time.Amedee Daryl Williams, violist, has performed throughout the United Sates and Canada in solo, chamber, and orchestral roles. He holds the MA degree in music performance from the Mannes College of Music and the MBA in finance from Lubin School of Business at Pace University. In addition to performing, teaching, and conducting, he also serves as president of the William Lincer Foundation.