Friday, April 28, 1989 / University Daily Kansan
Swarthout resident violinist to perform free on Sunday
Toby Hoffman's own family of musicians taught him well
by Christine Winner
Kansan staff writer
Violist and violinist Toby Hoffman said it wasn't always easy having a mother who also played the violin. At a string workshop for KU students yesterday, Hoffman said his mother would call up to his bedroom while he was practicing to tell him that an E flat should have been a E natural.
"Everyone needs practice time alone to play badly and figure things out," he said.
figure things out," he said.
Hoffman performed several pieces and answered
He performed on an Italian viola made in 1628 by
Swarthout Society resident artist Toby Hoffman pauses between playing classical pieces to answer questions about his career.
Antonio and Hieronymus Amati. The instrument, which once belonged to Queen Victoria of England, bears the queen's stamp, a picture of St. John the Baptist, and the Amati family coat of arms.
The other members of Hoffman's family are also musicians. His father is a violinist turned conductor, one brother is a pianist and composer, another brother is a concert cellist and his sister is a harpist.
Hoffman said he bought the viola about nine years ago when he heard that it was for sale in England.
He said he often played with his brother Gary, the cellist. At one time the family formed the Hofman String
"If you can imagine having the father of a family who's a violinist and conductor playing second violin . . . " he said.
He said that all the children received violin lessons from his mother. His lessons began at age 6, but after age 12 he stopped playing violins.
At age 18, he started playing the viola. Now he plays it more than the violin.
The viola, which is five notes lower in tone than the violin, has a darker, heavier sound, he said. He compared it to the cello, but the cello's sound is lighter.
"I picked up the viola one day and felt very comfortable. It felt right." he said.
Hoffman is internationally known as both a soloist and a chamber musician. He said it was more difficult for a violist to have a solo career because there was not a lot of great music or literature written for the instrument.
Hoffman said there were advantages to playing two instruments. He said that one can explore different pitches more easily with a guitar.
Elizabeth Whitehead, Austin, Texas, freshman, studying music therapy and has a violin scholarship. She said musicians usually chose one instrument or the other to perform.
"It's nice to see that someone can do both and play them equally well," she said.
Practicing is a necessity but sometimes difficult, Hoffman said, because musicians have to schedule their own practice time. It is easy to get caught up in one concert after another, he added.
This season Hoffman is performing in Japan, with the National Orchestra of Costa Rica, on tour with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and in recitals in Italy and Sweden.
Spare time for other activities is rare.
"There are only 24 hours in a day. Every day is consumed by music." he said
His free public performance is at 5:30 p.m. Sunday in Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall. His program will include Sonata in A Minor, "Arpeggetione." D. B21 by Schubert; Concerto for Viola by Bartok. Sonata in G major, No. 3. By Beethoven; and "Schon Ream," B45 and "And" by Preludium and Allegro, by Fritz Kreisler.
Steve Traynor/KANSAN
Army ROTC color guard member Alan Crossett, Colorado Springs, Colo., sophomore, helps John Danley, Leavenworth junior, with his flag harness.
KU Army ROTC cadets get recognition during ceremony
Program nominated as best in the area
by Kathy Walsh Kansan staff writer
The color guard stood at attention yesterday as the cadets of the KU Army ROTC recognized some of the principal officers and held the annual spring awards ceremony.
Col. Robert C. Kuhn, professor of military science, presided over the 45-minute ceremony on the lawn east of Allen Field House.
"We've had an outstanding year," he said of the program, which was awarded the National Outstanding Army ROTC Unit Award.
Nineteen awards were presented to cadets.
The highest award given at the ceremony was the Cadet of the Year award, said Ronald Hoard, Cadet Commander of Troops and Lawrence junior. The award is special because petition is selected by his peers, he said.
This year, the program was nominated as the best ROTC program in the brigade area, which includes Oklahoma and northern Texas.
John Penny, Hutchinson sophomore, was the recipient of the award.
"He was selected as the most outstanding cadet in the battalion," Board said.
Penny said he was pleased to receive the award and hoped he would have more responsibility in his work because of his accomplishments.
"It's a great honor to be cadet of the year. I worked hard for it," he said.
The four recipients of the award were Michael Ducey, Bonner Springs freshman; Elizabeth *@moneymaker; Aitchon sophomore; Todd Zollinger, Andover junior; and Melanie Sanders, Leavenworth senior.
A second award, Hoard was also thought of highly, is the Superior Cadet award. Recipients are selected by the department as being outstanding ROTC cadets in each academic level.
Zollinger said it was a great honor to receive the award because the recipients were chosen by the officers.
"The colonel said 'Lead by example' when he pinned it on me," said Zollinger, who replied "Yes sir."
"It's a great honor because you are the top cadet in your class when you get that award," Zollinger said.
During the ceremony, the Jayhawk Battalion saluted its special guest, Maj. Gen. Phillip Finley, Adjunct General of the State of Missouri in Kansas Army National Guard, by playing "Ruffles and Flourishes."
"You will find that the friendships you build today, will last you for your lifetime." Finley said.
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The Castle Tea Room 843-1151 1307 Massachusetts AURH presents:
The Association of University Residence Halls
Residence Hall Month
April 28-30 GSP-Corbin Presents "Vanities" a dramatic comedy April 28,29 8 p.m. April 30 2 p.m. 3 N. Corbin Hall Lobby Free Admission
April 29- Templin Hall Casino Party 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Templin Hall Lobby
April 29- McCollum Hall Battle of the Bands 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. outside McCollum Hall
April 30- "A Day on the Hill all day concert co-sponsored by SUA, AURH, KJHK and Student Senate by the Campanile. 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.