IN MEMORIAM Karen Ritscher (1952–2025)
Manhattan School of Music mourns the loss of viola faculty member Karen Ritscher, on July 15, 2025. A gifted violist, inspiring teacher, and cherished member of the MSM community, Karen brought profound musical insight, warmth, and joy to all who knew her. Her legacy—as an artist, educator, and mentor—will continue to resonate in the lives of her students, colleagues, and friends for years to come.
US violist Karen Ritscher has died, aged 73. Ritscher was influential in various musical avenues, including performance, education, movement and academia.
Born in 1952, Ritscher’s extensive pedagocial reach included serving on the faculties of the Manhattan School of Music, New York University, Boston University, Rice University, the Mannes College of Music, Oberlin Conservatory and the Eastman School of Music.
As an expert on player physicality, movement and self-expression, she held workshops in Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Korea, Taiwan and China, and was the featured viola master-clinician for the College Division at the American String Teachers Association Conference in 2009.
She served on the faculty of the annual Karen Tuttle Coordination Workshop from its inception in 2002, working with violists’ physical and emotional awareness to help create a beautiful sound, through tensionless playing.
Her interest in physicality in playing stemmed from her family of engineers: ’I am always fascinated by how the mechanics of movement work, and I enjoy helping people find their most efficient and authentic ways to express themselves, either on their instruments or through spontaneous dance,’ she said on her website.
She published many articles on practice, physicality and performance. She was the string consultant for Madeline Bruser’s book, The Art of Practicing; A Guide to Making Music from the Heart and co-authored The Karen Tuttle Legacy: A Resource and Guide for Viola Students, Teachers, and Performers.
Ritscher was a certified 5Rhythms Movement teacher, a method described as ’a dynamic practice to both workout and meditate in the same breath.’ Her work with the method led her to collaborate with patients in hospitals, caregivers, people with Alzheimer’s, artists’ collectives and fellow musicians.
Additionally, she co-led ‘Dancing with Dementia’ sessions in New York City and held grief workshops, implementing the 5Rhythms method.
Rischer served as principal violist for the Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera and Brooklyn Philharmonic, and assistant principal for the American Composers Orchestra. She performed with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Houston Symphony, New York City Ballet Orchestra, and the New York City Opera Orchestra.
As a concerto soloist, she has appeared with such orchestras as the Westchester Philharmonic, the Dallas Chamber Orchestra, the Colonial Symphony of New Jersey, the Texas Music Festival Orchestra and the Texas Chamber Symphony.
Ritscher was member of the Aureus Piano Quartet the Azure Ensemble, a chamber group that features the work of living female composers. She commissioned and performed new works by composers such as by Bruce Adolphe, Wendy Mae Chambers, Linda Bouchard, Tan Dun, Chen Yi, Bright Sheng, Alice Shields and Gabriela Lena Frank. She recorded the complete works or viola and piano by Ernest Bloch.
Ritscher was a survivor of necrotising fasciitis, a bone marrow cancer diagnosis and cardiac amyloidosis, the physical challenges from which she described as ’huge teachers for healing my own body and soul.’
Dear Colleagues:
With deep sadness, we write to share with you that our beloved colleague and friend, Karen Ritscher, passed away, July 15, 2025. We have lost a vital member of the Manhattan School of Music Community, and the loss of Karen in the musical world will reverberate in the days, weeks, months, and years to come.
Those who had the privilege to know and work with Karen experienced firsthand her deep musical insight, her compassion, and her joyful spirit. She brought wisdom and heart to every interaction, and her rich, influential legacy will continue to positively impact the lives of her many students, colleagues, collaborators, and friends.
Karen first joined the MSM viola faculty in 1989. Although she left MSM to take on other pursuits, to our great good fortune, she found her way back to us, rejoining the Precollege in 2007 and the College faculty in 2010. Karen was a truly gifted violist and sought-after pedagogue, drawing students from around the world. She exuded enthusiasm and graciousness and was deeply committed to the importance of music education and the nurturing of young musicians.
Messages from President James Gandre, Provost Joyce Griggs, Dean JT Kane, and Chair of Strings, Nicholas Mann
President Gandre:
I had the privilege of knowing Karen for many years, dating back to my first era at MSM, and was delighted to reconnect with her when I returned to the School as President in 2013. She was a major talent and a dedicated teacher, and all of us in the Community are feeling this great loss to the world of music and pedagogy. She is gone far too soon and will be missed by us all.
Provost Griggs:
My awareness of Karen’s legacy as a teaching artist began decades before my arrival at MSM. Having served as Provost here since 2018, I have had the opportunity to observe the impact of Karen’s pedagogy and listen to many of Karen’s students speak about her approach to mentoring and teaching them. Karen made them feel special, inspired, and nurtured, not just in music, but in navigating their life journey and transitioning from student to professional. The richness of Karen’s dedication to our MSM alums and students never waned. We are grateful she chose MSM as her teaching home and value her passion and dedication to the craft of performance and collaboration.
Dean Kane:
Although I didn’t have the privilege of knowing Karen before arriving at MSM in 2022, her reputation as a passionate and devoted teacher preceded her. From the moment we met, she welcomed me with open arms. Even while navigating her own personal challenges, Karen always offered a kind word and uplifting spirit. Her deep love for her students and her fierce dedication to teaching left a powerful impression that extended far beyond the walls of MSM and New York City. Her passing is a profound loss for our community, but her legacy will live on in the many lives she touched, inspired, and forever changed.
Chair of Strings, Nicholas Mann:
Karen was a talented and dedicated teacher, beloved by her students and her colleagues. Her warmth, caring and commitment will be deeply missed by all of us.
We will share more information soon about plans to honor Karen’s memory and celebrate her extraordinary life. Karen’s full bio is linked below our signatures.
With deepest sympathy to our community in this time of loss,
President Gandre & Provost Griggs
130 Claremont Avenue New York, New York 10027 212-749-2802
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