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Harold Coletta, the esteemed violist, was honored in a memorial on December 1, late Sunday afternoon at CAMI Hall on 57th Street in New York City. Paul Childs, a good friend and Mary Coletta, Harold's wife both gave moving talks about the man and the musician. Abba Bogin read excerpts from a forthcoming book on Harold, written by Martin Goldman. But, the celebration of Harold's life was really in sound, food and drink. There was a wonderful concert given by musician-friends and included the following works:

Schubert's "Arpeggione" Sonata played on violin by Israel Chorberg, violinist and Tamara Kezerov, pianist.

Veracini's Largo, Hindemith's Meditation, and Faure's Elegie, all for cello and piano performed by Jesse Levy, cellist and Abba Bogin, pianist.

A Finnish Folk Song, arranged for 8 violas by Peggy Swafford, performed by (in alphabetical order) violists -- Valentina Charlap-Evans, Christine Ims, Jill Jaffe, Olivia Koppell, Jesse Levine, Sandra Robbins, Myron Rosenblum and Masako Yanagita (this was a most impressive piece and a lovely arrangement).

B. Martinu -- Madrigal No. 1 (from Three Madrigals) for violin and viola, played by Elmar Oliveira, violin and Sandra Robbins, viola.

Gluck's Melodie (arr. by Kreisler) for violin and piano -- Elmar Oliveira, violin and Abba Bogin, piano

Gabriel Faure's Adagio from his Piano Quartet in C minor, performed by Masako Yanagita, violin, Olivia Koppell, viola, Frederick Zlotkin, cello and Abba Bogin, piano

There were some wonderful photos of Harold as a younger man as performer, teacher and with colleagues in different settings -- one with Pablo Casals and a group photo of when Harold performed with Jascha Heifetz, Gregor Piatigorsky and other stellar musicians at Carnegie Hall.

This was a fitting tribute to this wonderful violist and musician who touched many people during a full and rich life.

Myron Rosenblum

Harold Coletta, outstanding violist and former president of the New York Viola Society passed away on November 29th, 2001. Harold was beloved by many and respected as a great violist and musician. Those who heard Harold’s solo NYVS recital to celebrate his 80th birthday will not forget the wonderful technical and musical mastery that he still possessed and shared with us. He was a great inspiration to us all.

Harold's career was quite remarkable and covered many areas of the professional viola world. He was born in New York City in 1917 and studied at the Juilliard School of Music. His other string studies were with Joseph Kovarcik, Hans Letz, Lionel Tertis, Raphael Bronstein and Dounis. He served as principal viola in the All-American Youth Orchestra under Stokowski and was violist in many prestigious orchestras, including the St. Louis Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the NBC Orchestra, Symphony of the Air, and the Casals Festival Orchestra. He was the violist in the Phoenix and the American String Quartets. Harold was on the faculty of Yale University for four years, from 1972-1976. In 1964-66, he participated in the Heifetz-Piatigorsky Concerts in Carnegie Hall. During1967, he had solo recitals in London, Amsterdam, Berlin and Vienna, and a few years later in Zurich, Bern and Basel. Harold made a fine LP recording of two Hindemith Sonatas, the Beethoven “Eyeglass “ duet and Pleyel Duos.

Harold was president of the New York Viola Society following Rosemary Glyde's death and was always a great supporter of the society and its cause. We shall miss him, his smile, his warmth, his spirit and his presence. People who knew him on all levels will not easily forget him.

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