Neal Gripp

Gripp, Neal

Neal (Edward) Gripp. Violist, b Killam, Alberta, 8 Oct 1958; B MUS (University of Western Ontario) 1980, M MUS (Juilliard) 1983, DMA (ibid) 1985. His early studies were with Norma Lee Bisha in Saskatoon, followed by Gerald Stanick at the University of Western Ontario and William Primrose at the Banff SFA. Gripp played 1980-1 with the NACO before studying at the Juilliard School under Lillian Fuchs.

Gripp made his New York debut at Town Hall in 1985, followed by recitals at Alice Tully Hall, Wigmore Hall and Canada House in London, and the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris. He has given recitals for Espace Musique, the Music Gallery, and in Montreal, Saskatoon and Vancouver, and has made recital and solo orchestral appearances at the Aspen Music Festival. He has been heard frequently on CBC and US radio.

Gripp has commissioned and premiered new works for viola, among them Glenn Buhr'sConcerto for Viola and Orchestra (1990) and Variazione (1989, released on CD by Gandharva Editions, 1990, with Boyd McDonald, piano, GECD-9001), David Jaeger'sSonata, Tristan and Isolde (1990), and Michael Bussière'sHeaven is Now (1989).

Gripp rejoined the NACO in 1985 as assistant principal and was a founding member 1986-90 of the Pierrot Ensemble. He taught 1986-90 at the University of Ottawa. Gripp became principal violist of the MSO in 1990.