Dawson White

Helen Callus has an incredible talent as a performer AND teacher. In my lessons, I could be playing an etude or a concerto and she would always want the same beautiful quality of sound that could be heard at the back of the hall. She had an amazing way of diagnosing problems in my playing and then providing a detailed technical solution, which allowed me to express a variety of musical colors. She also committed a large amount of time outside of lessons, which included answering hundreds of emails, questions about the school/campus, and any other random questions I had. I learned a tremendous amount about who I am as a violist and artist during my time in Santa Barbara, and her great sense of humor and passion for the viola made music-making an awesome experience. I’m really looking forward to the next time we work together!

Dawson White, University of Baylor, Texas