Scott Slapin

Scott Slapin was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1974 into a family of musicians. He began writing music at the age of eleven, and his first orchestral premiere, at age fourteen, was a critical success in the New Jersey State Theater. He studied the viola at the Manhattan School of Music and earned his Bachelor of Music degree by the age of eighteen, making him one of the youngest graduates in the school's history.

Scott began his professional career as the on-stage solo violist in the New York City production of Orpheus in Love (1992-93), a chamber opera by Gerald Busby and Craig

Scott and his wife, violist Tanya Solomon, often perform together as a duo, and they can be heard playing Leclair's Sonata for Two Violas on an Eroica Classical Recordings compact disc entitled Sonatas by Lane, Leclair and Handel (JDT3134). Scott and Tanya have toured extensively throughout the United States and South America as members of the Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, the Louisville Orchestra and the Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra (OSESP), and they are former principal violists of the Knoxville and Chattanooga symphonies.

Myron Rosenblum, founder and first president of the American Viola Society wrote, "Scott Slapin is a musician of great talent and abilities - a violist of technical accomplishments and superior musicality. He is a violist to watch"

Virtuoso doublebassist Gary Karr wrote of Scott's playing and composing, "He has a beautiful sound with a compelling musical intensity, and he plays with a passion that demands one's attention. I especially liked his own pieces which, like his playing, are rich in emotional energy.... a very impressive display of artistry and musicality."

Visit the cds section of this website to see Scott Slapin's latest cd releases.

An Interview with Scott Slapin

Eroica: How did you begin creating music?

Scott: I began playing at the age of six. My mother made me(!) My parents (and many other relatives) are musicians.

I began to compose on my own around the age of eleven or so. For me it was maybe around the age of fourteen that I didn't need to be forced to practice the viola anymore. Ever since then I haven't been able to stop.

E: What musician or musicians have inspired you the most?

S: In person and on record: Emanuel Vardi and Gary Karr. On record: Jascha Heifetz, Nathan Milstein, David Oistrakh and William Primrose. This is the abridged list, of course.

E: How about other artists or authors?

S: The list would really be too long. . . perhaps I should mention Philip Roth's novels and Don Byron playing Klezmer music.

E: What do you want your music to communicate?

S: This of course depends upon the piece....In general, though, there is always a certain mood/emotion I am trying to impart to the listener. This could be anything ranging from the very profound and spiritual (The Bach Sonatas and Partitas for example) to the dramatic and emotional (Bloch's Prayer), to the absolutely silly and ridiculous (Ernst's Last Rose Variations on viola--or my own The Hassid and The Hayseed which combines Americana and Jewish folk music.)

Regarding the Ernst Variations on the Last Rose which is one of the most difficult pieces ever written for the violin, a couple people have said to me, "You know, that piece isn't really suited to the viola."

I then respond, "That's the whole point!"

Actually, it's not really suited to the violin either, but it's definitely not suited to the viola. What's fun about it is that it is a bunch of circus-like stunts on a simple tune which should shock and astound the audience and make them laugh a bit. (I feel that way about some of the Paganini Caprices on the viola as well.) I think some don't 'get it' because they expect everything only to be serious.

Classical music can (and should) convey the same range of emotions that are present in any other genre of music--and that are present in life (including even having a sense of humor at times).

Feel free to visit my website at: www.scottslapin.com and read all about it!