About Us

Kit Dodd

Viola

Kit dodd

Joined the SSO: 1981;  Librarian since 2009 (Assistant since 1993)
Born: Eugene, OR
Residence: Liverpool, NY

Education:  Bachelor of Music, University of Oregon; Master of Music, Wichita State University.

Earliest Musical Memory: The smell of the rosin when I got my first viola.

Most influential teachers: Gloria Peters, Eugene, OR; Amy Jo Butler, Eugene, OR; Sharron Smith, Eugene, OR; G. Roy Mann, University of Oregon and Jeffrey K. Irvine, Wichita State University.

Favorite composer/musical period/musical work: My favorite musical period is the Baroque. From this period I especially enjoy Biber and Bach. My favorite composers change as I get older. As a teen Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Beethoven were very exciting. As I get older I am now fond of Brahms, Mahler, Copland, Shostakovich, Prokofiev and EARLY Stravinsky. My favorite work is Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.

Favorite aspect of the performance experience: The most exciting time is when all 80 people on stage are in complete agreement and equally invested in the results. THAT is powerful music and doesn’t happen all the time.

Favorite part of being a member of the SSO? I have spent more than half my life in the SSO and have essentially grown up here. I have learned from the many good, and not so good things that have happened. It’s one big happy family complete with your favorite niece and your jerky uncle.

 When I’m not onstage, you might find me: Marking bowings in the string parts as part of my responsibilities as the SSO librarian. I also teach violin and viola at OCC and find that to be an interesting challenge. I enjoy to golf, camp, remodel, and go to holiday bowl games that the Oregon Ducks are playing in.

My favorite thing about Central New York is: ACCESS!  If you want to camp in the woods you are just minutes away. If you want to go to a major metropolitan center to see a concert, sporting event, or just visit, you are within just a few hours of MANY places to go. And of course the immediate area is beautiful and FULL of things to do; including a trip to the Syracuse Symphony!