Photo by Sam Pickart

A proponent of, and advocate for 21st century composition, New York City-based violist BLAKE ALLEN continues to distinguish himself as a versatile orchestral, chamber, and solo musician. Allen is a viola substitute with the New York City Ballet and New York Pops, sits Principal viola of Fort Green Orchestra and Long Island Concert Orchestra, and sits Assistant Principal Viola (2nd chair) with the joyous Little Orchestra Society. Blake has also been a part of five Broadway shows (Notre Dame de Paris, Tootsie, An American in Paris, Living on Love, and Misery: The Play) and several Off-Broadway plays including Beardo, Folk Wandering, The Poor of New York, and Tamar of the River.

Allen has been a soloist with the El Paso Symphony and Choral Chameleon having performed at such major NYC halls including Carnegie Hall Stern Auditorium, David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, The Allen Room, Symphony Space, 54 Below, Green Room 42, and many other recital venues. Allen has also performed with Philip Glass, Andrea Bocelli, The Who, The Eagles, Pink Martini, and Caroline Shaw. Frequently performing on his own albums, soundtracks, and recordings, Allen also commissions composers to write works for him.  

 

Allen has given solo performances to great acclaim at the Banff Centre and Strathmore Music Center of which included the NY, European, and Canadian premieres of Judith Shatin's Penelope's Song for electronics and viola. Allen has been the only violist to perform all of Shatin's solo works for viola on the same evening since their individual premieres (in recital with the solo works for viola of Ruth Schonthal). Allen has also concertized with fellow legendary violist Karen Ritscher, "bang on a can", and many other contemporary music groups throughout New York City and Europe.

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As an educator, Allen was Adjunct Faculty in violin and viola at New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development from 2012–2023. He holds a PhD from NYU where he examined folklore heritage, mathematics, and fractal-like development in György Ligeti's Sonate pour Viola (1991–1994) through musical, rhythmic, and linguistic perception.  With degrees from New York University (PhD with Honors; M.Phil.; M.M. with Honors), Brigham Young University (B.M. with Honors) and graduate studies at Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, Allen's principal teachers have included Stephanie Baer, Dr. Claudine Bigelow, Masao Kawasaki, and Dr. Catharine Carroll. 

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Allen plays on a 1986 Nicholas Frirz Viola and a 1951 A. Cremona bow. 

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For more information, references, recordings, and resumes, please contact.