Joyce Ramée

Joyce Ramée serves as an Affiliate Artist Faculty member in Viola at the University of Puget Sound's School of Music, a position held continuously since 1987. She founded and directed the Max Aronoff Viola Institute for 28 years (1990-2018), training over 900 string players, and is a founding member of both the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra and Auburn Symphony.

Her educational background includes studies at the Curtis Institute of Music under Max Aronoff and Joseph DePasquale, with fellowships at Tanglewood Music Center where she performed under conductors including Leonard Bernstein and Seiji Ozawa.

As an active performer, Ramée has appeared as soloist with orchestras such as Everett Symphony, Tacoma Youth Symphony, Lake Union Civic Orchestra, and University of Puget Sound Symphony. Recent highlights include North American premieres of José Aranda’s viola concerto Cuatro Escenas de Sur and George Walker’s Viola Sonata (2019), alongside ongoing community music instruction for students of all levels.

She mentors violists through her university studio and previously through the Max Aronoff Viola Institute, guiding students toward professional music careers. Ramée also volunteers as choir member and music director at St. Luke’s Church in Renton and participates in the Dante Alighieri Society of Washington.