Violin & Viola Lessons with Larry Joe W.

Starting out at the age of 11 on flute, Larry Joe decided to switch to viola at the age of 14. A native of Detroit, Michigan he started out his studies with Detroit Symphony Orchestra violist, Hang Su. As part of the DSO’s Civic Youth Ensembles Larry Joe performed in Orchestra Hall and Robert A. & Maggie Allesee Hall. He was a member of the Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Larry Joe continued his studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with Jonathan Vinocour, principal viola of the San Francisco Symphony. There he did extensive work in the opera department performing in the pit, Glory Denied by Tom Cipullo and Le Nozze di Figaro. Larry Joe also collaborated with composers of the school, premiering new works including small stage operas, string quartets, and chamber orchestra pieces.

In the Fall of 2021, Larry Joe attended the University of California, Los Angeles to continue his studies with Che-Yen Chen, pedagogue and violist of the Ehnes String Quartet.

In the spring of 2022, Larry Joe collaborated with the graduate composition department to premiere a series of short works based off of Kurtág’s Signs, Games, and Messages in recital. Also, while attending UCLA he was co-principal viola of the orchestra and continued his passion of performing in the opera orchestra.

In November 2023, he won his position in the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra.

He lives in Los Angeles, California, and mentored by Michael Casimir of the St. Louis Symphony.