Steven Dann

Steven Dann’s career spans the full range of possibilities offered by his instrument, the viola. Whether as principal viola in some of the world’s finest orchestras, as an experienced quartet and chamber musician, as a soloist or recitalist, or as a dedicated teacher, every avenue his instrument and talent open to him represents a challenge he embraces fully.

A Canadian born in Vancouver in 1953, Mr. Dann received his earliest training and mentorship from Lorand Fenyves. He later refined his artistry with William Primrose, Robert Pikler, and Bruno Giuranna. He also spent six summers deepening the string quartet repertoire under the guidance of Zoltán Székely and members of the Hungarian String Quartet.

As a soloist, Steven Dann has collaborated with conductors such as Sir Andrew Davis, Rudolph Barshai, Jiří Bělohlávek, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, and Vladimir Ashkenazy. Since 1990, he has been a member of the Smithsonian Chamber Players in Washington, D.C., and is also a founding member of the Axelrod String Quartet, the quartet-in-residence at the Smithsonian Institution.

Mr. Dann has frequently commissioned new works from composers including Alexina Louie, Peter Lieberson, R. Murray Schafer, Frederick Schipitsky, and Christos Hatzis.

He is regularly invited as performer and teacher to numerous international festivals, including the Young Artists Program of the National Arts Centre, the Domaine Forget in Charlevoix, Quebec, and the Banff Centre for the Arts. He teaches viola and chamber music at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
Mr. Dann performs on a viola crafted in the 1780s by Joseph Gagliano.