Helen Fall: Viola Studio

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Studio News

Three-way tie for most performances attended for 2024-2025 (EIGHT!). Jinger, Sarah, and Alyssa all received trophies. BRAVI!!!

Jinger was awarded the 2025 Fall Studio Stellar Student Award! Brava, Jinger!

Although it wasn't available to be presented at the Spring Recital, Sarah received her 15-point SILVER cup at her last lesson 3 days later. Brava, Sarah!

Jinger performed in the very competitive NVMTA String Achievement (Caurine Easterling) Competition on May 17th. She played very well!

BRAVA!!

Congratulations to violin student Colleen, awarded 3rd place and a $500 prize at the 2025 Alexandria Lions' Club James Bland Competition on February 23rd!

Jinger, Maya, Jason, and Colleen each performed well at the January 26th NVMTA Concerto Competition.

BRAVI!!

PERFORMANCE MASTERCLASSES #1A & 1B!

Performance Masterclasses 1A and 1B shared good ideas for practice and welcomed new students Rebecca, Eilin and Noah! Both classes included mock SRO auditions and performances of solo literature in progress. The Group A masterclass was romantically enhanced by a power outage, which caused us to replicate the atmosphere of our composers, performing by candlelight! What a memorable class!

2023 SENIOR RECITAL
We are so proud of violin students Kate, Clara, and Mallory who presented a stellar #SeniorRecital on June 3rd. They will soon move on to UVA, UMass & Air Force Academy. It has been such an honor to share their musical journeys. Special thanks to Awesome Collaborative Pianist, Mr. Lin! #ClassOf2023

The 30th ANNUAL SPRING RECITAL was a wonderful gift of music from all of the Fall Studio students to family and friends. It was a proud moment for this teacher to see each student rise to the occasion and show the awesome fruits of his or her labor. We bid adieu to our fabulous graduating seniors, Mallory, Clara and Kate, who proudly modeled the 30th Anniversary "String of Excuses" t-shirts!
Thanks to Mr. Do for his fabulous videography! A Google Drive folder of each performance was shared with students and parents via email. Special thanks to Mr. Lin for his fabulous playing at the recital. Thanks to Mr. Lin and Ms. Liu for their help and support throughout the year!

The 30th ANNUAL WINTER RECITAL at Leewood Healthcare and Rehab Center was a huge success for ALL students! The residents were uplifted by the Christmas Cheer, and some were even moved to sing along! The music certainly touched their souls. Thanks to students and parents for their time and energy to make this annual event so special for the Leewood residents.

KUDOS TO STELLAR STUDENTS!!

2023-2024 ORCHESTRA HONORS

District Honors Orchestras

District 11

Colleen, SDO #11 (seated 7th chair, 1st violin)

Maya, JDO Principal Viola

Evelyn, JDO 5th chair viola

District 12

Jinger, JDO 7th chair viola

Jason, SDO 11th chair viola

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technolgy
Philharmonic Orchestra
Colleen, Section 2nd violin

James Madison High School Chamber Orchestra

Jason, Assistant Principal Viola

Frost Middle School Chamber Orchestra
Maya, Principal Viola
Evelyn, Section viola

Rocky Run Middle School Chamber Orchestra

Jinger, Principal Viola

Haycock Elementary School Advanced Orchestra
Haycock Elementary School Chamber Orchestra
Erya, Principal Viola

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The Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestras Chamber Orchestra

Maya, Principal Viola

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American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras

AYS

Jason, Section viola

Alyssa, Section viola

AYSE

Claire, Section viola

AYDO

Erya, Assistant Principal viola

AYPS

Morgan, Section violin

2022-2023 ORCHESTRA HONORS

2022 District XI Senior Honors Orchestra
Kate, 4th chair, 1st violin (placed 4th)
Clara, 5th chair, 1st violin (placed 9th)
Colleen, 10th chair, 1st violin (placed 14th)
Mallory, 13th chair, 1st violin (placed 17th)
Only 44 violins are accepted to SDO (22 1st violins, 22 2nd violins)

2022 District XI Junior Honors Orchestra
Maya, 4th chair viola (placed 4th)
Only 16 violas are accepted to JDO

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technolgy
Symphonic Orchestra
Colleen, Concertmaster

WT Woodson HS Symphonic Orchestra
Kate, Concertmaster
Clara, Assistant Concertmaster
Mallory, Principal Second Violin

Frost Middle School Chamber Orchestra
Maya, Principal Viola

Frost Middle School Concert Orchestra
Frost Middle School Intermezzo Orchestra
Evelyn, Principal Viola

Haycock Elementary School Advanced Orchestra
Haycock Elementary School Chamber Orchestra
Erya, Principal Viola

Woodson HS State Tennis Quarterfinals!
It was a thrill to be able to see violin students Mallory & Kate represent Woodson HS in the Virginia State Tennis Quarterfinals v. Langley on June 2nd. It was a brutal 95 degrees, but they hung in there! Langley was the winning team, but this is the only time Woodson made it to States in their 4 years. Nice way to cap off their senior year!

TJHSST Spring Concert
It was such a pleasure to attend the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Spring Concert on May 31st. Colleen was an especially professional Concertmaster of the Philharmonia Orchestra!

May 13 NVMTA Strings Achievement Competition
Jinger, Maya and Colleen performed in the very competitive NVMTA Strings Achievement (Caurine Easterling) Competition on May 13th. All played very well! Jinger was awarded Honorable Mention in the Elementary Low Strings Division!

April 15 NVMTA Judged Recital
In preparation for the Easterling Competition in May, Jinger, Maya and Colleen performed selections that they will play for the competition. Great stepping-stone recital to test out the music! Bravi!!

March 26 NVMTA General Recital
Erya and Evelyn played in their first NVMTA Recital at the Woman’s Club of Arlington on March 26th. Maya, with lots of experience at the club, was also on the program. They all played so well, despite not having had a chance to rehearse their selections with Mr. Lin! Well done!!

Clara, Kate, Mallory and Colleen all performed beautifully at the Alexandria Lions’ Club James Bland Competition on February 19th. Special shout-out to Clara, who was awarded 3rd Place!

Claire, Morgan and Logan all performed well at the NVMTA General Recital on February 5th. This was the first time playing at a teacher’s association recital for Morgan and Logan! Well done!

Jinger was awarded 3rd place in the Low Strings Elementary Division of the NVMTA Concerto Competition on January 28th. It was great giving her the award at her lesson after the check came in the mail!

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SURPRISE VISITS FROM FORMER STUDENTS ARE THE BEST!
It was a welcome surprise to see former viola student, Matt Negrin at our door. Currently living in New York City, Matt is the Senior Digital Producer for Comedy Central's The Daily Show. Matt came back to Fairfax to visit his parents...and Mr. and Mrs. Fall!! Matt remembers Fall's Law!!

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I loved getting a text and photo from former violin students, Bobby Chase (Humming Housefiddler, composer, arranger, and recording engineer), andEleonore Denig (composer, arranger, and recording session professional), who shared a stand in a Nashville recording session with singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actress,Lauryn Hill.They both remember Fall's Law! ;-)