Kathryn Plummer
Professor Emerita of Viola
Kathryn Plummer, Professor Emerita of Viola at Vanderbilt University. In 2024, Plummer marked her 50th year serving the Blair School of Music. Recognized both as an impressive performer and dedicated teacher, she was honored to be included in an elite list of “World-Class Artists and Teachers” by the Journal of the American Viola Society (Vol. 37, No. 2) in 2021.
Plummer began her career with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, rising to the rank of assistant principal violist. She joined the Blair faculty in 1974, and as violist of the Blair String Quartet (1974-1987) she presented numerous world premieres, recorded several acclaimed albums, toured the United States, and gave a New York debut in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. In 1981 she was Associate Professor of Viola at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music commuting between the two cities before returning permanently to Nashville in 1983. Her close affiliation with the BSQ and members of the Blair faculty has remained the core inspirational experience of her professional performing career. In 2019 she temporarily rejoined the BSQ on its Chilean tour, performing and teaching at the Portillo International Music Festival and Academy.
As a dedicated chamber musician Plummer has traveled to many parts of the musical world, performing for more than two decades with the Festival der Zukunft (Switzerland). She performed regularly with the Sitka Music Festival (Alaska) during its summer, fall, and winter seasons in both Sitka and Anchorage. Other appearances have been with the Smithsonian Chamber Players (Washington, D.C.), the Seattle Chamber Music Festival (Washington), the Sedona Music Festival (Arizona), the Notre Dame Chamber Players (Indiana), the St. Cere Festival (France), the Craftsbury Chamber Players (Vermont) and with the Trio de Barcelona (Spain).
As a viola recitalist she has performed at the National Gallery of Art, Alice Tully Hall, on National Public Radio, and at several International Viola Congresses. As soloist with orchestra, she presented the world premiere of Alan Shulman’s Variations for Viola, Harp, and Strings at the XIV International Viola Congress in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She also has appeared as soloist with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, the Festival der Zukunft Orchestra, the Anchorage Symphony Festival Orchestra, the Peninsula Festival Orchestra (Wisconsin), the Aspen Festival Student Orchestra, and the Indiana University Orchestra.
In addition to her early orchestral tenure with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (1972-1974), Plummer was principal violist of the Aspen Chamber Orchestra for six consecutive summers and served as principal violist with the Peninsula Festival Orchestra. In 1996 she served as interim principal violist with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra under its conductor, Kenneth Schermerhorn.
Over the span of her long career, critics have praised her for her artistry. New York Times: “an especially vibrant and sonorous viola.” The Anchorage Times: “played with eloquence and persuasive authority.” The Strad: “a highlight of the Congress.” Cincinnati Enquirer: “she played with lovely artistry.” Musical America: “stellar.”
Plummer has taught at the Aspen Music Festival, Rocky Ridge Music Center (Colorado) and the Curs Internacional de Musica de Vic (Spain). She frequently is invited to teach master classes in conservatories and universities nationwide. In spring 2024 she will present a Collegiate Viola Master Class at the American String Teachers Association National Conference in Louisville. She has served many years as a national board member of the American Viola Society and served from 2011-2013 as the viola forum editor with the American String Teachers Association.
A native Kentuckian, she was educated at Indiana University and the Juilliard School. Her mentors include violists Joseph Beach, Joseph Pival, Robert Oppelt, David Dawson, Walter Trampler, William Primrose, Samuel Rhodes, Martha Katz, and pianist György Sebők. The mentorship she received from these teachers has been passed along to countless violists during her time at Blair. Her students, including three Founder’s Medalists, developed into fine musicians and scholars. Often recognized by internal school awards, many now hold prominent teaching and performing positions throughout the world.
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