Matt Umlauf is an accomplished violist who has played in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
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Matt Umlauf music career
Matt Umlauf is an accomplished violist who performs on a modern Helmuth Keller viola and an early 19th-century Étienne Pajeot bow. He has trained with renowned musicians such as Harold Levin, Achim Gerber, Charles Pikler, Jorge Sutil, Michael Isaac Strauss, and Roland Vamos. After completing his graduate studies, he joined the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, working alongside esteemed artists like Lorin Maazel and Gidon Kremer.
Following his time in Chicago, Matt became a member of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra (VSO) under JoAnn Falletta’s direction. His work with the VSO has allowed him to perform alongside many of the top musicians in the industry, and his ensemble performances have been broadcast on well-regarded radio stations, including WFMT in Chicago, WHRO in Hampton Roads, and NPR’s “Performance Today.” Matt has also been involved in numerous recording projects, contributing to albums on labels like Naxos and the VSO label. One notable recording was Mahler’s 8th Symphony.
In addition to his domestic performances, Matt has enjoyed considerable international success. He has been invited multiple times to serve as principal viola for the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional in the Dominican Republic. His international work also includes premiering the string quartet *La Tierra Es Nuestra Casa* by Venezuelan composer Adina Izarra in Mexico at festivals in Puebla and Mexico City.
Matt has been featured at several prestigious festivals, including the Santo Domingo Music Festival in 2015 and the American Institute of Musical Studies festivals in Austria in 2013 and 2015, enhancing his reputation as a versatile and experienced violist both in the U.S. and abroad.