Timothy MacDuff

Violist Timothy MacDuff is an active orchestral musician, chamber artist, soloist, and educator who serves as Assistant Professor of Viola at Texas Tech University. Prior to his appointment at Texas Tech, he spent seven seasons as a member of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and five years on the faculty of the University of Arkansas, where he taught viola and chamber music.

As an orchestral musician, MacDuff has performed a wide range of repertoire with ensembles including the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, New World Symphony, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, Glens Falls Symphony, and Orchestra of Northern New York. He has participated in festivals throughout the United States, including the National Repertory Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute and Festival, Round Top Festival Institute, and Lake George Music Festival. His concerto appearances include performances of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, Ernest Bloch’s Suite for Viola and Orchestra (1919), and Cecil Forsyth’s Viola Concerto.

MacDuff served for seven years as violist of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s flagship string quartet, the Quapaw Quartet, presenting concerts and educational programs throughout Arkansas. The ensemble explored a broad range of musical styles, including bluegrass and American fiddle traditions. His chamber music activities have included collaborations with Zuill Bailey, Tessa Lark, Julian Rhee, and Orion Weiss. He has performed at venues including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Baird Auditorium. Festival appearances include the Faulkner Chamber Music Festival, Manitou Chamber Music Festival, Loon Lake Live, Chamber Music on the Mountain, and Ozark Music Festival.

As an educator, MacDuff has served on the faculties of the University of Arkansas, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra String Academy, and numerous summer music programs. His students have earned recognition in regional concerto and honors competitions and have been admitted to leading institutions and festivals, including the New England Conservatory, Oberlin Conservatory, University of North Texas, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Eastern Music Festival, and Ozark Music Festival. He is committed to developing technical excellence in service of expressive and artistic performance.

Born in Glens Falls, New York, MacDuff began studying viola through his public-school music program. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the State University of New York at Potsdam, a Master of Music degree from Rice University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland School of Music. His primary teachers include Shelly Tramposh, James Dunham, Joan DerHovsepian, and Katherine Murdock.