Stanley Konopka

Stanley Konopka joined The Cleveland Orchestra in 1991 and has been assistant principal violist since 1993. He was previously a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and was principal violist of the National Repertory Orchestra.

He has performed as soloist with The Cleveland Orchestra, the National Repertory Orchestra, the Masterworks Festival Orchestra, the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra, the Contemporary Youth Orchestra and the Suburban Symphony Orchestra.

As a chamber musician he was member of the Myriad Ensemble, has performed with the Miami String Quartet, the Cleveland Orchestra Piano Trio and at chamber music festivals throughout North America such as Taos, Lakes, Pensacola, Banff and the Reinberger Chamber Music Series at Severance Hall. Mr. Konopka has recorded chamber music on the Telarc and Azica labels with John Clouser, Yolanda Kondonassis, Massimo La Rosa and Richard King.

He has taught viola at the Oberlin Conservatory, Cleveland State University, Kent/Blossom, Encore School for Strings and has given masterclasses at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, Interlochen Arts Academy, Masterworks Festival, Stringendo School for Strings, Palm Beach Atlantic University and the Ohio Viola Society. He has been a faculty member at the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) since 1995. Konopka won the B.M.I. Award to Student Composers and the Young Artists Award at the Interlochen Arts Academy before attending CIM as a student of former Cleveland Orchestra Principal Viola Robert Vernon. His other teachers include David Holland (Interlochen), Milton Preves (Principal Viola, Chicago Symphony Orchestra) and Susan Starrett.