Instructor Biographies

Scott Ligocki, Viola

Scott Ligocki grew up in Bellevue, Washington, as a violin student under the tutelage of David Soter. While in high school he became captivated by the deep sound of the viola, and began studies with Yizhak Schotten which continued at the University of Washington and Rice University. He was subsequently accepted to attend the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied viola and chamber music with acclaimed violist Michael Tree of the Guarneri Quartet, as well as with the preeminent pedagogue Karen Tuttle. During his time at the Curtis Institute, Mr. Ligocki was featured in recital several times on Philadelphia radio WFLN, and in 1989 was among a select handful of students from the Curtis Institute and the Juilliard School who were invited to perform at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center as part of the 65th birthday celebration for the composer Ned Rorem.

After returning to the Seattle area, Mr. Ligocki served for five seasons as principal violist of the Northwest Sinfonietta, where he also appeared as soloist, and since 2002 he has held the position of principal violist with the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra. His diverse performing career also includes frequent appearances with the Seattle Symphony and Seattle Opera, as well as a variety of chamber music activities and motion picture recording projects. He has recorded with the Grammy Award winning band Evanescence and performed on the 2010 U.S. tour of Belle & Sebastian.

Mr. Ligocki has maintained a private teaching studio for over twenty years, and has taught on the faculty of the Max Aronoff Viola Institute since 1994. He has worked as a coach with the Seattle Youth Symphony and Everett Youth Symphony organizations, and has made many dozens of visits to area public schools to provide volunteer coaching and lecture demonstrations. He is the author of two books: Hodgepodge College of Violin Knowledge, and Hodgepodge College of Viola Knowledge.

Mr. Ligocki is happy to teach students of any age and any level from beginner to advanced. Enthusiasm for music, and for learning, is more important than ability already achieved.

For information or scheduling, please call Scott at 206-524-7671 or email ligocki.scott@gmail.com.