New fiddler in town

Renowned violinist Anne Akiko Meyers will join the faculty of the Butler School of Music at The University of Texas at Austin in fall 2009.
"The University of Texas at Austin is proud to offer a home for the top creative minds of the world," said Provost Steven Leslie. "We strive to create a culture of excellence that generates intellectual excitement, transforms lives and develops leaders. A world-class talent, Anne Akiko Meyers sets the standard for artistic leadership and I am proud to welcome her to our faculty."
Audiences in Austin know Meyers from her recent solo appearance at the Butler School of Music's Starling Distinguished Violin Series and from her multiple performances with the Austin Symphony Orchestra.
"Anne Akiko Meyers is a celebrated concert violinist of the very highest order," said Doug Dempster, dean of the College of Fine Arts. "She performs with technical virtuosity that never overwhelms her musicality. She performs with an unmistakably lush tone that she uses to explore an adventuresome repertoire. I'm looking forward to her extraordinary standard of professionalism and artistry coming to The University of Texas at Austin."
Meyers' portfolio includes multiple premieres of works by composers such as David Baker, John Corigliano, Jennifer Higdon, Wynton Marsalis, Olivier Messiaen and Somei Satoh among others. She has recorded more than 20 albums, brings a commitment to teaching and new music, and remains a participant in community outreach programs around the world.
"I am thrilled at the opportunity to work with the incredibly talented faculty and build on the inspiration the Butlers have afforded The University of Texas at Austin," said Meyers. "I believe the students and quality of music making will be the talk of the world. I look forward to passing on the traditions that I learned from my mentors and incredible teachers throughout my life."
In addition to teaching master classes globally, she has been a panelist at the Juilliard-hosted Starling-Delay Symposium and has adjudicated numerous competitions. She was recently the first violinist to be named Regent's Lecturer at the University of California, Los Angeles.
"Ms. Meyers has achieved much in her 20 years of concertizing around the world," said B. Glenn Chandler, director of the Butler School of Music. "I am very pleased that she has decided to make our school the place where she will now focus her attention on passing those performance skills on to the next generation of young violinists."
In her concert career, Meyers has been a regular guest at some of the most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw, the Hollywood Bowl, Lincoln Center and Suntory Hall. She has also performed with some of the world's most recognized orchestras, including the Boston Symphony, London's Philharmonia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, l'Orchestre de Paris, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, Tokyo's NHK Symphony and the Vienna Symphony.

Be sure to hear our interview with Anne from Classical Spotlight in March 2009: mp3 file.