This week’s music maker is DSO Principal Viola Meredith Kufchak. 

Have you ever wondered why the viola gets so much hate? As Meredith explains, there’s actually good reason — and it goes all the way back to the instrument’s earliest days. 

Meredith is the youngest of six siblings, all of them musicians. She chose the viola at just four years old, inspired by her older sister, and grew up in a home she fondly describes as “basically a conservatory,” with six kids all competing for practice time. 

We also talk about her journey to the DSO, including a year-long audition process, and how her life has changed since moving to Dallas in 2019. Spoiler alert: it includes another DSO love story. 

If you’re listening on release day, April 16, the world premiere of Jonathan Leshnoff’s Four Scenes from Childhood is happening tonight, with Meredith as soloist. It’s not often the viola takes center stage, and this piece holds special meaning for both the composer and Meredith. 

Stay tuned to learn more about this unique new piece, and I hope you enjoy getting to know Meredith in this episode. 

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