CHAUNCEY PATTERSON is principal violist for Palm Beach Symphony, solo violist for Florida Grand Opera, violist for the Bergonzi String Quartet at the University of Miami, and member of the Nu Deco Ensemble. He has been principal violist of the Denver and Buffalo Symphonies and, for 15 years, was the violist with the Miami String Quartet, an internationally renowned and extensively recorded ensemble. Patterson started playing the viola at age seven in the public school system of Burlington, N.C. He attended the University of North Carolina, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and the Curtis Institute. He began his professional career at age 23 as assistant principal viola of the Denver Symphony. During his tenure with MSQ, the quartet garnered awards in the quartet competitions of London and Evian and became the first string quartet to win the Concert Artist Guild New York Competition. The MSQ toured the U.S. extensively, playing at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Hollywood Bowl. Education has been a major component of Patterson’s career, most recently as associate professor of chamber music at Lynn University. His faculty affiliations include: The Cleveland Institute of Music, Blossom School of Music, Hartt School of Music, Eastern Music Festival, New World School of the Arts, Florida International University, and the University of Miami. Patterson is an alum of EMF and has been on the faculty since 2013.