Violist Archives - Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra

December 1, 2018August 11, 2019

GWEN FRANZ, Violist

As a performer, recording artist, teacher, and scholar, Gwen Franz is a diverse violist of multiple musical traditions. In 2017, she was awarded a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Washington in classical viola performance, which also included studies within the jazz and ethnomusicology departments.

Her research on improvisation and oral traditions resulted in her thesis topic, “The Homeric Answer: How By-Ear Learning and Improvisation Enhance the Musicianship of Classical Performers.”

Dr. Franz has been featured as a concerto soloist and chamber musician throughout the Pacific Northwest, has toured throughout the United States and Chile.

She has also performed with eclectic musicians such as Darol Anger and Eugene Friesen. In 2013 she released two albums, Airoso, with classical guitarist Hilary Field, and Douce Ambiance, with jazz violinist Michael Gray and cellist James Hinkley.

Her many years of professional orchestra experience include performing with the Seattle Symphony, Northwest Sinfonietta, Grand Rapids Symphony, Lansing Symphony and Evansville Philharmonic. She recently moved to Port Townsend with her husband, Ernie Franz. (Dec 2018)

July 13, 2018August 11, 2019

MATTHEW DALINE, Violinist & Violist

A Port Townsend High School graduate, Matthew Daline enjoys a versatile career as a chamber musician, violin/viola soloist, and educator. He received the bachelor of music degree from The Juilliard School where he was a Teaching Assistant for Karen Tuttle, and a masters degree from Yale University where he studied with Jesse Levine.

Mr. Daline was the top prizewinner at the Artists International Competition in New York City, which provided a debut recital in Carnegie Hall.

Since giving his viola debut in Carnegie Hall, Mr. Daline has performed worldwide as a viola soloist, principal violist, and has recently taught master classes at Yale University, The Juilliard School, The University of Michigan and Central Conservatory of China, Beijing.

Mr. Daline is a tenured professor and the Coordinator of Strings at Bowling Green State University in Ohio and his students have attained positions in orchestras, teaching, and awards at numerous national and international competitions.

Mr. Daline performs on a Brescian Viola circa 1560.

February 1, 2014August 11, 2019

PHIL MORGAN-ELLIS, Conductor

Phil Morgan-Ellis (photo from Sequim Gazette)

Phil Morgan-Ellis grew up in Utah, where he played violin in the Golden Spike Youth Symphony. He studied Music Education at Weber State University. After graduating in 1972 Mr. Morgan-Ellis left for Seattle. In 1977 he moved to Port Angeles, where he taught orchestra, band and computers in the elementary and middle schools of the Port Angeles School District.

Mr. Morgan-Ellis and his wife, Deborah, started what became the North Olympic Youth Symphonies in 1979, and together they managed and conducted this group of orchestras for 25 years. They received a citation for their work from the Port Angeles Education Foundation in 1995, and were named Clallam County Citizens of the Year in 1996. The Port Angeles Symphony gave them the Biz Gehrke Award for their work with the youth of the peninsula in 1995.

Mr. Morgan-Ellis was principal violist in the Port Angeles Symphony until he moved from Washington state to Costa Rica in 2006. There he taught in the National Youth Orchestra and the European School in Heredia.

After four years he returned to the peninsula to start up Mr. Phil’s Strings, a group of after school orchestras for elementary and middle school string students. In February of 2012 he was asked by Lili Green to direct and conduct the Sequim Community Orchestra. He and his wife have two daughters: Elizabeth, a professional harpist in Philadelphia, and Esther, a professor of music at University of North Georgia.