Ayn Balija

Violist Ayn Balija is currently Associate Professor of Viola at the University of Virginia, Principal Violist of the Charlottesville Symphony, and violist of the Rivanna String Quartet. She has also been on the faculty at James Madison University, presents masterclasses throughout the country, and serves on faculty at the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts each summer. Balija has performed in Heinz Hall and Carnegie Hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony and plays regularly with the Richmond Symphony, Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra, Charlottesville Opera, Victory Hall Opera and the Roanoke Symphony. She has also performed solo recitals in New Zealand, Oregon, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia with programs that focus on the versatility of the viola. Ayn Balija holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music and James Madison University. Her principal mentors have been Peter Slowik, Jeffrey Irvine and Karen Tuttle.