Ralph Fielding

Ralph Fielding joined the Utah Symphony’s viola section at age 18 and went on to spend 16 years with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. These early professional experiences shaped his teaching style—direct, musical, and focused on what really works under pressure. Today, his students are winning auditions in ICSOM and regional orchestras across the country, often crediting his knack for quick, practical solutions for technical and musical issues.

He’s shared his ideas in master classes at Oberlin, Eastman, Indiana University, NEC, Michigan, the Cleveland Institute of Music, the San Francisco Conservatory, and Rice University. For many years, he also worked closely with the New World Symphony, giving nearly 200 lessons to its viola Fellows; two of his former college students are themselves Fellows in the 2025–26 season. Ralph has served as an adjudicator for ASTA, MTNA, and Suzuki competitions, and was Chair of the Jury for the 8th Primrose International Viola Competition. His university teaching has included the University of Southern California and the tuition-free Conservatory of Music at Lynn University.

Beyond the concert stage, Ralph has performed on dozens of Hollywood film scores, albums, and television projects. He earned his B.A., M.M., and M.B.A. from Yale University, where he studied with Raphael Hillyer (an original member of the Juilliard Quartet) and Kazuhide Isomura of the Tokyo Quartet.

At summer programs, Ralph’s teaching is known for being energetic, positive, and highly individualized. Students often describe lessons as both challenging and freeing: focused on unlocking confidence, artistry, and ease in performance.