Texas State University Associate Professor of Viola
American Viola Society President (2023-2026)
Tosca String Quartet Violist
Austin Opera Principal Violist
Austin Symphony Orchestra Section Violist
Texas State String Project Founding Director (2010-2020, 2024-)
A passionate viola artist-teacher, Ames is in great demand for private and group instruction, clinics, presentations, recording, and performances of all types throughout Texas and beyond. Recent performing and teaching engagements have taken her across the United States and to Mexico, Thailand, Japan, South Africa, Poland, Turkey, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic, Australia, and New Zealand. A chamber music specialist, her recent collaborative projects include performances and recordings for: viola/cello duo with Karla Hamelin; tenor/viola/piano with Rick Novak and Joey Martin; mezzo/viola/piano with Soon Cho and Joey Martin; oboe/clarinet/piano with Ian Davidson and Vanguel Tangarov; and premieres of chamber works by composer Thomas Clark.
Current projects include Stations of Mychal, a new dramatic long-form song cycle (libretto by Rick Davis, music by Kevin Salfen) based on the life and ministry of Fr. Mychal Judge, FDNY chaplain who perished during the 9/11 attacks, and recordings of viola/cello works by female composers, particularly from underrepresented populations. Her recording of Sieben Kleine Barock-Tänze by Charlotte Hampe was selected to appear on the 2024 AVS Presents CD release.
A passionate viola educator, Ames is currently Associate Professor of Viola at Texas State University, where she maintains a strong and inclusive viola studio and builds an aspirational culture of personal growth, possibility, achievement, and mutual support. She organizes the annual Texas State ViolaFest, welcoming students and teachers onto the Texas State campus for a full day of viola artistry, learning, and community. She is also Director of the Texas State String Project, a community outreach program providing low-cost string instruction for area families and teaching opportunities for Texas State string music education majors.
In addition to her current major teaching and performing roles, Ames is a frequent performer with Arizona Musicfest, Philharmonie Austin, the Victoria Bach Festival and Conspirare, where she was honored to serve as violist for Craig Hella Johnson’s modern “fusion oratorio” masterpiece, Considering Matthew Shepard.
Currently President of the American Viola Society (AVS), Ames coordinated virtual content for the 47th International Viola Congress in 2022, co-presented the 2020 AVS Online Mini-Festival, coordinated the 2021 50th Anniversary Virtual Festival, and has served as AVS Communications Coordinator. When her schedule allows, Ames enjoys exploring Baroque viola, sunset walks, and spending time with her family.