•  
  •  
 

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

Harold Coletta, musician, violist, viola player

College

Fine Arts and Communications

Department

Music

Abstract

Eight cupboards stood in front of me, full of materials that once belonged to Harold Coletta, a prominent, influential violist of the twentieth century. I unlocked one of them, pulled out a stack of papers, and started sorting through them. Hidden treasures began to appear among the concert programs, snapshots, and letters: a photograph of Pablo Casals; a letter from William Primrose; a picture of a rugged, wavy-haired young man in Japan touring with Toscanini; a student ID card from Juilliard. A certificate from the Universal Life Church read “This is to certify that the bearer hereof, Rev. Harold Coletta, has been ordained this day June 10th, 1992.” In a note labeled “letter from Stokowski,” I found the words, “We have in the All-American Youth Orchestra a viola player [Harold Coletta] who is remarkable both as a viola player and as a man of clean-cut, vigorous and fine character.” A thrill ran through me as I realized that I was running my fingers through the very life and career of this man.

Download

Included in

Fine Arts Commons

Share

COinS