Colin Belisle
viola


Colin Belisle is an emerging violist and active performer in New York and New England. He has performed with the Rhode Island Philharmonic, Atlantic Symphony, Green Bay Symphony, Portland Symphony, Gardner Chamber Orchestra, and Amadeus Chamber Symphony. As a chamber musician he has performed in such esteemed venues as Carnegie Hall and Boston's Jordan Hall, and has collaborated with members of the Cassatt, New Hellenic, and Turtle Island string quartets. He has been an active participant and fellowship recipient at Aspen, Banff, Bowdoin, and the critically acclaimed Sound Encounters festival in Boston, and has also been a guest artist in new music engagements at The Boston Conservatory and artist-in-residence at Denison University.

A passionate supporter of contemporary composers, Colin has had the privilege of performing the world-premiere of Augusta Read-Thomas' Incantation for solo viola, as well as premiering works by Michael Gandolfi, Kenji Bunch, and Jennifer Higdon. He has performed in recital numerous works of Schnittke, Penderecki, Kurtàg, Ligeti, Pärt, and Takemitsu. As a recording musician, he has worked with legendary artists in classical, jazz, and contemporary music, and has recorded soundtracks to films that have appeared at the Cannes and Vienna film festivals. Of the recorded albums, one most noted is the top-selling album Minh' Alma Nua by Fernando Holz.

Colin Belisle holds a master of music degree and graduate diploma from New England Conservatory, and a bachelor of music degree from Lawrence University. His principal teachers include Carol Rodland, Matthew Michelic, and Simon Rowland-Jones at the Royal College of Music in London; with additional studies from 2002-2005 with Kim Kashkashian at NEC. Also a classically trained singer, Colin's principal teachers include Joanne Bozeman at Lawrence University, and Damien Francoeur-Krzyzek of New England Conservatory and The Boston Lyric Opera. Colin is currently a member of the viola faculty at The Manchester Community Music School in New Hampshire, and The Brookline Music School.