Photo by Jenny Hunt

Juliet Dawson is a Chicago-based violist who is actively pursuing her dream of becoming a professional chamber musician; a dream that has been percolating since she discovered string quartets in 8th grade. She is also passionate in promoting awareness of the viola’s versatility, potential, beauty, and accessibility.

She was a member of Performance 2020, Hartt’s prestigious chamber music ensemble. In this capacity she has collaborated with and recorded for the Hartt Dance Program as well as members of the Martha Graham Company; participated in outreach programs, and is featured on the Performance 2020′s publicity cd’s for 2011 and 2012. She is especially proud to have been a part of a series of revival concerts for the musicof Sergei Tanayev, a project started in 2010 by Professor Anthony Elliot.  She is currently playing with the Living Room Players, a group of soloists and teachers in Chicago, IL, and working as a chamber ensemble coach in her private lesson studios.

As a soloist, Juliet debuted with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra in 2007, playing Carl Maria von Weber’s Hungarian Andante and Rondo. In 2008 she performed Carol from Ralph Vaughan William’s Suite for Viola and Orchestra for The University of Michigan’s Scholarship Showcase. Since then she has appeared with The Hartt Symphony Orchestra as a winner of the 2012 Paranov Concerto Competition, performing Bohuslav Martinu’s Rhapsody Concerto. In 2016 she performed as a duo in the Church of Beethoven in Oak Park, IL, and in 2018 she performed as a solo artist in the David Adler Performing Artist’s Concert Series, where she performed works by Bach, Reger, Hovhaness, Bruch, and an original composition on both viola and the violin.

She has also been featured in several recording projects as well. In 2010 she was part of the documentary, “The Last Wilderness: Journey To The Western Arctic Reserve.” In 2011 she was part of “Miss Iron River,” a short film with music by William Zuckerman. She also is featured on the recording for “Cherry Orchard,” a 2012 Hartt Theatre production, with music by Matthew Primm.

She has acted as principal viola of the University Philharmonic Orchestra at The University of Michigan, and The Hartt Symphony Orchestra. From 2007-2011 she was a member of the Ann Arbor Camerata and the Arbor Opera Theatre. She has also played in many regional, baroque and opera orchestras in Connecticut, Iceland, Illinois, Michigan, and New York. She is currently a section member and/or substitute of Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra, Rockford Symphony Orchestra, and Whiting Park Symphony Orchestra.

Juliet has participated in renowned music festivals such as the International Music Academy of Plzen; Domaine Forget; 3 Bridges International Festival, and Chautauqua. She has also performed in masterclasses for the American String Quartet, 8th Blackbird, Phoenix Quartet, Atar Arad, James Dunham, Yuri Gandelsman, Jeffrey Irvine, John Madison, Peter Slowik, Yizhak Schotten, and Rebecca Young.

She has completed her MM degree at The Hartt School, with Rita Porfiris. She obtained her BM with Yizhak Schotten at The University of Michigan. She is herself active as a private lesson teacher on both violin and viola.