Mikaho
Somekawa
Submitted:
October 3, 2014
Awarded
: $
833
Contact Information:
Mikaho
Somekawa
2790 NE 8th Street
Pompano Beach
FL
33062
USA
954-770-7522
Reference 1:
Suzanne Ferguson
Reference 2:
David Dolata
Summary of Submitted Materials:
invoice
Submitted Documents:
Submitted Recordings:
Committee Notes:
Project Description:
Grant in aid-In order to purchase a treble viol
Request Amount:
$
1500
Total Project Cost:
$
Budget and Additional Funding:
Qualifications:
To Whom It May ConcernI would like to apply for a Grant in aid from the Viola da Gamba Society of America in order to purchase a treble viol.As a viol player,one of my dream is to own a set of viols. At present,my only instrument is 7-strings bass viol. While I have been fortunate to be able to borrow a treble viol from a friend, I have very much wanted to have a treble of my own for a long time.After a through search, I have finally found a lovely treble viol for sale. It is a John Rose model, made by Marco Ternovec,2004.The price is 6000 US. I am able to contribute 4500 towards the purchase myself, and I would like to request a grant of 1500 from the society.With the purchase of this instrument,I hope to play wonderful consort music and continue to spread the world of the viol.Currently,I am coaching at FIU Florida International University,Miami,FL as an Adjunct Professor of Viola da Gamba and Collegium Musicum Assistant since 2012.I taught several classes for viol at PBA Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach in Collegium Musicum, this past spring semester 2014.PBA is planning to have viol class for this coming spring semester againThis has been a big challenge for me. I sometimes find it difficult to coach a group, although it makes me very happy to have the opportunity to coach and play with new young peopleIn addition to teaching, I also perform with local musicians in South Florida. My next concert is November 2 with Impulso Barocco in Miami,presented by the Miami Bach Society.Not surprisingly,lucrative teaching and performance opportunities for the viol are quite limited in South Florida. This has made my financial situation a little tough. If I were awarded the grant,it would be a very strong support for me.Since I came to US, the viol has connected me to many people, created friendships, and enriched my life. The viol is a big part of my life, and I would appreciate if the VDGSA could help me purchase a treble viol.I believe I will be able to have a deeper impact and influence more people who are interested in viol musicIf more details are needed please let me know.Sincerely yours,Mikaho Somekawa
Letter of Reference 1:
Reference from DAVID DOLATA:
September 10, 2014
Dear Ms. Szuts,
It is my pleasure to recommend that the Viola da Gamba Society of America award Mikaho
Somekawa a Grant-in-aid to purchase a treble viol. Ms. Somekawa has been our adjunct professor of
viola da gamba and my Collegium Musicum Assistant for over two years now. She has sole responsibility
for our viola da gamba class; 100% of her student evaluations are stellar, and in no time she has taken
classes of beginners with no experience to the level where they can play consort music. Several students
wrote that it was their favorite class, commenting on how knowledgeable, patient, and accommodating
she is. I too am taking the class and have benefitted from her teaching and am now able to hold my own
in consort settings thanks to her teaching. It was also my favorite class of the week, as it were. I am,
however, sorry to say that FIU pays adjunct professors so poorly that I very much doubt that it even
covers her travel expenses from Pompano Beach to Miami, an hour and a half drive each way. So, in a
sense, awarding her this grant would also be assisting her students at a public university and help her to
continue what is essentially volunteer charity work on behalf of the greater good for the viola da gamba
world as well as for our most deserving and highly appreciative students.
Ms. Somekawa also assists me in the larger collegium concert settings by providing and coaching
gambists for our large concerted works as well as smaller chamber works. As a professional lutenist, I am
also extremely familiar with her playing from sitting next to her in many concerts. Together we have
performed repertoire such as Marais’ suites on gamba and theorbo. She is a sophisticated and musical
player with an enormous and glorious sound. One need only listen to her play open strings to realize what
an extraordinary a player she is. I have also introduced her to the other early music groups in Miami, and
we are most fortunate to have her play with us on our university concerts as well as our concerts for the
Miami Bach Society.
My qualifications for judging the merit of her application also include my forthcoming book
Meantone Temperaments on Lutes and Viols in 2015 from Indiana University Press and editing all and
writing several of the 16th-c. viol, lira da braccio, and lirone essays in the forthcoming Tablature
Encyclopedia published by CESR/CNRS in Tours published by Brepols, for which I am associate editor.
In short, Mikaho Somekawa is a musical, reliable, and yet demanding professor who manages to
elicit the very best from her players through her example, charm, and kindness, despite the fact that she is
woefully underpaid, which she has graciously never mentioned. And what a player! I love playing next to
her because it guarantees me the best seat in the house. Should you require any further input, please feel
free to contact me directly.
Sincerely,
David Dolata, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Musicology
Director, Collegium Musicum
FIU School of Music Director Emeritus
Letter of Reference 2:
Reference from: SUZANNE FERGUSON
5524 Cheshire Dr.
Ft. Myers, FL. 33912
13 October 2014
Dear Marie,
This letter is in support of Mikaho Somekawa’s application for assistance to purchase a Jane Julier treble viol that has belonged to Mikaho’s former teacher, Gail Ann Schroeder.
As one who has followed Mikaho’s career since she came to Florida four years ago, I strongly believe she really needs a fine treble to play in her consort work, ensembles, and her teaching at Florida International University. Mikaho has an outstanding bass by Sato, but she has never owned a treble: she has been borrowing a “student†treble over the past several years.
As you can well understand, it is very difficult for someone to come from a totally different culture and language background and try to forge a career in south Florida, where Mikaho lives because of her husband’s employment. Even with the cachet of having studied with Wieland Kuijken and other European teachers, she has had slow progress getting established here, partly because her English is still developing. Her job teaching viol with Florida International is strictly part-time, and she has not been able to pick up a lot of ensemble work: South Florida is not exactly a hotbed of early music. However, it appears that she is becoming better known, so I am hopeful that she will become more prominent in the near future.
The addition of a fine treble would be a big boost at this particular point. I hope that the VdGSA is able to assist Mikaho in its purchase. I would add that Mikaho has been very generous in playing with the amateur players here: we think it has helped her develop her consort style and we know she has been an inspiration to us. We think she is fully vested in the mission of the VdGSA, and should be encouraged.
Sincerely,
//s// Suzanne Ferguson
Suzanne Ferguson
Tamiami Consort and Green Flash Consort of Viols