Meredith Crawford
Viola
Principal, Catherine and James Emmi Chair
Meredith Crawford, Principal Viola, is a Los Angeles-based musician who values the variety and vibrancy in her career that Los Angeles has to offer, and consistently demonstrates her value for emotional connection with the audience through her authentic connection with the music she performs.
At the age of 22—before the completion of her senior year at Oberlin Conservatory—she won her first ever orchestral audition and a seat with Pacific Symphony. She subsequently moved up the ranks in her section, winning the Assistant Principal chair in 2012, followed by the Principal chair in 2018.
Described as a “sensitive, poetic ‘singer’ on her instrument,” with a “big, warm, inviting tone” and a “glorious sound... paired with tasteful musicality,” she has been compared to legendary violist Donald McInnes, praised for her ability to bring a “focused, melodic” sound to what’s typically considered a “fuzzy-voiced” instrument.
Crawford is also an avid chamber musician. She is the resident violist of Salastina, one of LA’s most innovative and beloved chamber music organizations. She has also performed with various chamber groups and orchestras around Los Angeles, including the Lyris Quartet, the New Hollywood String Quartet, the Dashan Trio, the Café Ludwig series, Camerata Pacifica, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra, and the LA Philharmonic. Additionally Crawford is an active studio musician for movies and television, and has especially treasured her experiences working with her childhood hero John Williams.
At the age of 22—before the completion of her senior year at Oberlin Conservatory—she won her first ever orchestral audition and a seat with Pacific Symphony. She subsequently moved up the ranks in her section, winning the Assistant Principal chair in 2012, followed by the Principal chair in 2018.
Described as a “sensitive, poetic ‘singer’ on her instrument,” with a “big, warm, inviting tone” and a “glorious sound... paired with tasteful musicality,” she has been compared to legendary violist Donald McInnes, praised for her ability to bring a “focused, melodic” sound to what’s typically considered a “fuzzy-voiced” instrument.
Crawford is also an avid chamber musician. She is the resident violist of Salastina, one of LA’s most innovative and beloved chamber music organizations. She has also performed with various chamber groups and orchestras around Los Angeles, including the Lyris Quartet, the New Hollywood String Quartet, the Dashan Trio, the Café Ludwig series, Camerata Pacifica, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra, and the LA Philharmonic. Additionally Crawford is an active studio musician for movies and television, and has especially treasured her experiences working with her childhood hero John Williams.
