Scott Slapin

Who is Scott Slapin?

As both performer and composer, Scott Slapin has made many contributions to the viola recital repertoire. His compositions have been performed by violists across the United States and Europe and at the Primrose, Tertis and ARD Competitions. His viola playing has been praised by string virtuosi from Ruggiero Ricci to Gary Karr, and his recordings have received critical acclaim in the American Record Guide, Strad, Musical Opinion, Mundo Clásico and Fanfare.

His Recitative for Solo Viola was commissioned for the 2008 Primrose International Viola Competition and is a required piece for the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble at the Aspen Music Festival. He is the first person to have recorded all of Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin on viola, a cycle which he has recorded twice. He has made the premiere recordings of 20th and 21st century works by Blanche Blood, Gerald Busby, John Duke, Arthur Foote, Maurice Gardner, Richard Lane, Ivan Langstroth, Patrick Neher, Boris Pigovat, Frank Proto, David Rimelis, Frederick Slee, and Gustav Strube, many for the American Viola Society. He was on the committee for the inaugural Maurice Gardner Composition Competition, and he co-premiered the winning work, Rachel Matthews' Dreams, at the 38th International Viola Congress.