Free, RSVP required
Please join us for A Memorial for Karen Ritscher this Sunday, October 5, at 1 PM in Greenfield Hall. This event will feature remarks and performances by Karen’s former students, MSM faculty colleagues, family, friends, her 5Rhythms community, and other groups. It will be followed by a reception, during which you are encouraged to share stories and memories of Karen.
Greenfield Hall Manhattan School of Music 130 Claremont Avenue New York, New York 10027
ABOUT KAREN RITSCHER
Praised by the New York Times for her “superior musicianship,” Karen Ritscher was recognized internationally as a leading pedagogue and performer. She was on Manhattan School of Music’s Precollege and College faculties and had previously taught at Rice University, maintaining an undergraduate viola studio at Oberlin Conservatory. As a master class clinician, she was invited to Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Korea, Taiwan, and China. Summer residencies included the Aspen Festival, the Heifetz International Institute, Aria Music Festival, Bowdoin Music Festival, Domaine Forget, and the Quartet Program at Bucknell. Since its inception in 2002, she had served on the faculty of the annual “Karen Tuttle Workshop” and, in 2009, was the featured viola Master-clinician for the College Division at the American String Teachers Association Conference. Ms. Ritscher performed and recorded regularly with the Azure Ensemble, a chamber group based in New York City that features the work of living female composers.
She was also a member of the Aureus Piano Quartet and Steve Reich Musicians. As a champion of living composers, Ms. Ritscher commissioned and/or premiered works from many composers including Bruce Adolphe, Wendy Mae Chambers, Linda Bouchard, Tan Dun, Chen Yi, Bright Sheng, Alice Shields, and Gabriela Lena Frank. She appeared at six International Viola Congresses as featured soloist and presenter and recently recorded her first CD of the complete works for Viola and Piano by Ernest Bloch. Over the course of her busy career, she served as Principal Violist of the American Composers Orchestra, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Houston Grand Opera, and the Dallas Opera. She toured and recorded with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, New York Philharmonic, and the Houston Symphony.
As a concerto soloist, she 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. Ms. Ritscher was honored to have been the string consultant for the award-winning book by Madeline Bruser, The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music from the Heart. She was Education Editor of the Journal of the American Viola Society, author of the column “From the Studio,” and a frequent contributor to string magazines.
With deep sadness, we write to share with you that our beloved colleague and friend, Karen Ritscher, passed away yesterday, 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 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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