My name is Vasili Frankos, and I’ve been playing the viola since 1987.
Before that, living in Baltimore City, I can remember listening to my mother play a baby grand piano on our sun porch.
We had a big box of assorted instruments on that porch that I liked to use to create my own auditory ruckus as a little kid; among the instruments in there: a kazoo, a slide whistle, a tambourine, wood rhythm sticks, and a hand drum, among others.
One of the first music recordings I was gifted began with the famous William Tell Overture. I remember bouncing on my bed up towards the ceiling in utter joy as the music filled the room.
My parents moved to Howard County, Maryland in 1986 when I was seven years old.
This is a place with particularly incredible opportunities for music learning.
In this short biography of my formative early music learning experiences, I wish to acknowledge some of the many excellent music teachers I had the privilege of working with. This includes four excellent private viola teachers, well over a dozen orchestra directors, chamber music studies with the Peabody Trio, and one extremely dedicated band director.
Before I say anything else, I must express my heartfelt appreciation for the many excellent forms of support I kindly received from my parents and my brother and sister. They attended numerous concerts and put up with many hours of good and bad viola and drum practice.
My mother's early experience as a classical pianist undoubtedly helped me in my music learning; she even arranged to have a recording of Bach playing in the hospital room while I was born.
My father's keen music appreciation helped me branch out and listen with an open mind to many different kinds of music; and he also played "guess the composer" with me when we'd listen to classical radio in the car.
After a few months of group string classes as a third-grader in 1987 with the enthusiastic Edward G. Kerman at Hammond Elementary School in Laurel, Maryland as a third-grader, I began taking Suzuki Method private lessons in the home of Gina Naples in Savage, Maryland.
When Ms. Naples relocated for her college studies, I continued private viola lessons in the Suzuki Method with Sherrie Norwitz. I continued studying viola with Ms. Norwitz for almost eight years, through my senior year of high school. She helped me learn that music is an important expressive language; she helped me find my own musical voice so I can effectively speak with my viola.
Instead of school orchestra class, I chose to play percussion (mainly snare drum) in the band at Hammond Elementary in fourth and fifth grade.
I then went on to play percussion in the Hammond Middle School Band under the enthusiastic direction of Robert Miller, while continuing to play viola with the Maryland Junior All State Orchestra.
With deep gratitude, I thank Mr. Miller for his thoughtful guidance. He taught me the meaning of the word “integrity.”
At high school, I played viola with the Hammond High School Orchestra under the direction of Judith Gill. I also spent one intense year on the wrestling team, two character-forming years on the baseball team (position: catcher), and one expressive year singing with chorus.
I continued to participate in the Maryland All-State, Howard County, and Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestras (notable directors were Anne Harrigan and Paul Jan Zdunek), while also studying chamber music at the Peabody Preparatory (with members of the Peabody Trio: Violaine Melancon, Seth Knopp, and Thomas Kraines).
I attended Indiana University during the 1997-1998 school year, closely studying biology and English literature, as well as music (viola with Sarah Sutton).
After that formative year at Indiana University, I decided to focus more closely on viola performance, which meant discontinuing my studies there. I then studied viola performance, independent of any school affiliation, for two years with Peter Minkler of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Peter and his wife Bonnie have been two of the most important influences on my life. I love them as I love my own family. They helped me develop skill, respect for myself and others, and a healthy life perspective.
After winning auditions with merit scholarship offers from Eastman School of Music, Boston Conservatory, and Boston University in the year 2000, I decided to take a different route instead. From 2001 until 2004, I studied Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Maryland, College Park, focusing primarily on soil science, agriculture, economics, politics, and environmental education.
The world of music beckoned me back, though. I then became a busking violist by way of this unconventional path, teaching private lessons in viola and violin with sincere care for my students, their families, and their futures.
Before that, living in Baltimore City, I can remember listening to my mother play a baby grand piano on our sun porch.
We had a big box of assorted instruments on that porch that I liked to use to create my own auditory ruckus as a little kid; among the instruments in there: a kazoo, a slide whistle, a tambourine, wood rhythm sticks, and a hand drum, among others.
One of the first music recordings I was gifted began with the famous William Tell Overture. I remember bouncing on my bed up towards the ceiling in utter joy as the music filled the room.
My parents moved to Howard County, Maryland in 1986 when I was seven years old.
This is a place with particularly incredible opportunities for music learning.
In this short biography of my formative early music learning experiences, I wish to acknowledge some of the many excellent music teachers I had the privilege of working with. This includes four excellent private viola teachers, well over a dozen orchestra directors, chamber music studies with the Peabody Trio, and one extremely dedicated band director.
Before I say anything else, I must express my heartfelt appreciation for the many excellent forms of support I kindly received from my parents and my brother and sister. They attended numerous concerts and put up with many hours of good and bad viola and drum practice.
My mother's early experience as a classical pianist undoubtedly helped me in my music learning; she even arranged to have a recording of Bach playing in the hospital room while I was born.
My father's keen music appreciation helped me branch out and listen with an open mind to many different kinds of music; and he also played "guess the composer" with me when we'd listen to classical radio in the car.
After a few months of group string classes as a third-grader in 1987 with the enthusiastic Edward G. Kerman at Hammond Elementary School in Laurel, Maryland as a third-grader, I began taking Suzuki Method private lessons in the home of Gina Naples in Savage, Maryland.
When Ms. Naples relocated for her college studies, I continued private viola lessons in the Suzuki Method with Sherrie Norwitz. I continued studying viola with Ms. Norwitz for almost eight years, through my senior year of high school. She helped me learn that music is an important expressive language; she helped me find my own musical voice so I can effectively speak with my viola.
Instead of school orchestra class, I chose to play percussion (mainly snare drum) in the band at Hammond Elementary in fourth and fifth grade.
I then went on to play percussion in the Hammond Middle School Band under the enthusiastic direction of Robert Miller, while continuing to play viola with the Maryland Junior All State Orchestra.
With deep gratitude, I thank Mr. Miller for his thoughtful guidance. He taught me the meaning of the word “integrity.”
At high school, I played viola with the Hammond High School Orchestra under the direction of Judith Gill. I also spent one intense year on the wrestling team, two character-forming years on the baseball team (position: catcher), and one expressive year singing with chorus.
I continued to participate in the Maryland All-State, Howard County, and Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestras (notable directors were Anne Harrigan and Paul Jan Zdunek), while also studying chamber music at the Peabody Preparatory (with members of the Peabody Trio: Violaine Melancon, Seth Knopp, and Thomas Kraines).
I attended Indiana University during the 1997-1998 school year, closely studying biology and English literature, as well as music (viola with Sarah Sutton).
After that formative year at Indiana University, I decided to focus more closely on viola performance, which meant discontinuing my studies there. I then studied viola performance, independent of any school affiliation, for two years with Peter Minkler of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Peter and his wife Bonnie have been two of the most important influences on my life. I love them as I love my own family. They helped me develop skill, respect for myself and others, and a healthy life perspective.
After winning auditions with merit scholarship offers from Eastman School of Music, Boston Conservatory, and Boston University in the year 2000, I decided to take a different route instead. From 2001 until 2004, I studied Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Maryland, College Park, focusing primarily on soil science, agriculture, economics, politics, and environmental education.
The world of music beckoned me back, though. I then became a busking violist by way of this unconventional path, teaching private lessons in viola and violin with sincere care for my students, their families, and their futures.