About Charles
Photo Credit: Calvin Hu
Charles Kritsch is an accomplished orchestral, solo, and chamber violist from Madison, WI. After starting viola at age 10, he grew to love performing classical music at a young age.
He has participated in competitions and was Honorable Mention at the Bolz Young Artist Competition at age 14. At age 16, he was honored as the Wisconsin Symphony Youth Orchestras (WYSO) Philharmonia Concerto Competition winner, performing the Stamitz Viola Concerto in 2021.
An avid orchestral violist, Charles has held principal violist positions in the internationally renowned Jacobs School of Music Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been awarded positions with professional orchestras such as the New World Symphony in Miami, Florida.
He continues to explore his identity as a chamber musician, recently performing in the Icicle Creek Chamber Music Institute in Leavenworth, WA, and Madeline Island Chamber Music Fesitval. As one of the Chamber Music Institute Young Artists, he performed works by Mendelssohn, Mozart, Dvořák, and Frank Bridge.
Charles continues to perform in competitions, most recently winning the Clampitt Concerto Competition at Birch Creek Performing Arts Center, performing Hindemith's Viola Concerto, "Der Schwanendreher", in 2023. He also has received Honorable Mentions at the Milwaukee Stars of Tomorrow Competition as well as being one of 5 winners of the WYSO Youth Concerto Competition.
He performs on a viola made by luthier Keith A. Davis in Michigan, USA in 1994.
Charles currently studies with Stephen Wyrczynski, Professor of Viola at the
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
He appreciates and values the role of pedagogues such as Karen Tuttle. As an educator, Charles aims for each student's technique to serve the music, viewing the relationship between the body and music as one.
About Charles
Charles Kritsch is an accomplished solo, orchestral, and chamber violist from Madison, WI. After starting viola at age 10, he grew to love performing classical music at a young age. He has participated in competitions and was Honorable Mention at the Bolz Young Artist Competition at age 14. At age 16, he was honored as the Wisconsin Symphony Youth Orchestras (WYSO) Philharmonia Concerto Competition winner, performing the Stamitz Viola Concerto in 2021.
Charles continues to perform in concerto competitions, most recently winning the Birch Creek Performing Arts Center's Symphony Concerto Competition (2022) with Hindemith's Viola Concerto, "Der Schwanendreher". He also has recieved Honorable Mentions at the Milwaukee Stars of Tomorrow Competition as well as being one of 5 winners of the WYSO Youth Concerto Competition.
He continues to explore his identity as a chamber musician, recently performing in the 2024 Icicle Creek Chamber Music Institute in Leavenworth, WA. As one of the Chamber Music Institute Young Artists, he performed works by Mendelssohn, Mozart, Dvořák, and Frank Bridge.
As an avid orchestral violist, Charles has held principal violist positions in WYSO's acclaimed Youth Orchestra. At the Jacobs School of Music, he recently performed as the Associate Principal Violist of the internationally heralded Jacobs Philharmonic Orchestra, earning the position at 18 years old.
He performs on a viola made by luthier Keith A. Davis in Michigan, USA in 1994.
Charles currently studies with Stephen Wyrczynski, Professor of Viola at the
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.