# Steven Ansell

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Steven_Ansell
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Steven_Ansell.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Ansell
> Source revision: 1224793129
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

This article is about the classical musician. For the rock musician, see [Blood Red Shoes](/source/Blood_Red_Shoes).

**Steven A. Ansell** (born February 5, 1954) is an American [violist](/source/Violist) whose career involves work as a chamber musician, solo artist, and orchestral musician. He is the principal violist with the [Boston Symphony Orchestra](/source/Boston_Symphony_Orchestra), a position he has held since September 1996. Prior to his appointment, Ansell had already appeared with the orchestra as a guest soloist. He also teaches at the [Boston University](/source/Boston_University) College of Fine Arts and is a member of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players. He is a founding member of the Muir String Quartet.[1]

## Biography

Ansell is a native of [Seattle, Washington](/source/Seattle,_Washington). He graduated from the [Curtis Institute of Music](/source/Curtis_Institute_of_Music) at the age of 21. While at Curtis, Ansell studied with [Michael Tree](/source/Michael_Tree) and [Karen Tuttle](/source/Karen_Tuttle). Immediately following graduation, Ansell was hired as a professor of viola at the [University of Houston](/source/Moores_School_of_Music). He left the university two years later at the age of 23 to become assistant principal violist of the [Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra](/source/Pittsburgh_Symphony_Orchestra) under [André Previn](/source/Andr%C3%A9_Previn).

Ansell has appeared with chamber music organizations such as the [Boston Chamber Music Society](/source/Boston_Chamber_Music_Society) and the Concord Chamber Music Society. He also regularly tours with the Muir String Quartet, which he co-founded in 1979. In January 2011, Ansell and the Quartet performed with former U.S. Secretary of State and pianist [Condoleezza Rice](/source/Condoleezza_Rice).[2]

Ansell's solo appearances include [Mozart](/source/Mozart)'s *[Sinfonia Concertante](/source/Sinfonia_Concertante_for_Violin,_Viola_and_Orchestra)* with Malcolm Lowe under the baton of André Previn; [Berlioz](/source/Hector_Berlioz)'s *[Harold in Italy](/source/Harold_en_Italie)* with [Emmanuel Krivine](/source/Emmanuel_Krivine); [Bruch](/source/Max_Bruch)'s [Concerto for Viola, Clarinet and Orchestra](/source/Concerto_for_Clarinet,_Viola,_and_Orchestra) with [Seiji Ozawa](/source/Seiji_Ozawa); and [Strauss](/source/Richard_Strauss)'s *[Don Quixote](/source/Don_Quixote_(Strauss))* with [Mstislav Rostropovich](/source/Mstislav_Rostropovich). Ansell has also performed in concert with many other musicians and conductors like [Yo-Yo Ma](/source/Yo-Yo_Ma), [Steven Isserlis](/source/Steven_Isserlis), [Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos](/source/Rafael_Fr%C3%BChbeck_de_Burgos), and [Jian Wang](/source/Jian_Wang_(cellist)). He is a contributing editor to the Chicago-based online string music company Ovation Press.[3]

Ansell has done solo work with many ensembles including Sinfonia Concertante, the [Boston Classical Orchestra](/source/Boston_Classical_Orchestra) and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed at music festivals such as [Tanglewood Music Festival](/source/Tanglewood_Music_Festival), [Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival](/source/Schleswig-Holstein_Musik_Festival), [Marlboro Music Festival](/source/Marlboro_Music_Festival), [Blossom Music Festival](/source/Blossom_Music_Center), [Newport Music Festival](/source/Newport_Music_Festival), and [Festival dei Due Mondi](/source/Festival_dei_Due_Mondi).[4]

## References

1. [Steven Ansell, viola](http://www.bu.edu/cfa/profile/steven-ansell/)

1. [Salt Lake Tribune, Condoleezza Rice and Muir String Quartet in Park City](http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsburger/50736729-53/rice-music-utah-muir.html.csp)

1. [Steven Ansell at Ovation Press](http://ovationpress.com/c-37-ansell-steven.aspx)

1. [Boston Symphony Orchestra](http://www.bso.org/bso/mods/bios_detail.jsp?id=400014)

## External links

- [B.U. Bridge Article, September 1997](http://www.bu.edu/bridge/archive/1997/09-12/arts.html)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Steven Ansell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Ansell) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Ansell?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.