Australian Violist Roger Myers has Died From Cancer

Myers was a viola professor at the University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music and taught at renowned U.S. summer schools 

Born in Sydney, Australia, Roger Myers played with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra as a student and later studied with Donald McInnes at the University of Southern California.

Myers presented critically acclaimed concerts and masterclasses in countries across five continents including Austria, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, China, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and the U.S. 

He made his Carnegie Hall debut to great acclaim in 2005, served as the youngest-ever artistic director and host chairman of the XXV Silver Anniversary Viola Congress, and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London.

He also served as a professor of viola at the University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music. Many of his students won positions at major symphony orchestras and in prestigious conservatories, universities, and summer schools.

Additionally, he taught at summer festivals including the Music Academy of the West, Bowdoin Summer Music Festival, Montecito Festival, Green Mountain, International Festival Institute at Round Top, and Marrowstone Music Festival. 

His chamber music partners included Lynn Harrell, Sidney Harth, Suren Bagratuni, Yehonatan Berick, Michael Francis, Jorja Fleezanis, Daniel Heifetz, Alex Klein, Mark O’Connor, Ronald Leonard, and Felicia Moye. 

In 2013, he released his “Fantasy and Farewell” album of works by Schumann, Shostakovich, and Mclean, on the Delos label with the London Symphony Orchestra. The American Record Guide named the album “a masterpiece.”

At the 2014 Global Music Awards, the same recording was awarded “Best of Show” and won two Gold Medals for Solo Instrumental Performance and Best Album. Myers played a 1763 J.B. Guadagnini viola.

“R.I.P. my friend Roger Myers! What wonderful musical moments we have had over the years and what a fine friendship we have had,” violinist Ole Bohn posted on Facebook. “He will be remembered by many.”

“Quite simply, we lost a legend. To know Roger Myers was to know someone truly larger than life, a Titan,” wrote violist Brett Detweiler on Facebook. “He exuded knowledge and confidence that was utterly magnetic. Being in his studio required a continuous search for knowledge and a never-ending pursuit of excellence.”

Our condolences to Mr. Myers’ family, friends, students, and colleagues.