ViolaPlus is an international concert series founded and artistically directed by violist Tatjana Masurenko, created to give a dedicated platform to the rich and diverse solo and chamber music repertoire in which the viola plays a central and leading role.

The series was established in 2003 at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” Leipzig, arising from a deep artistic conviction in the viola’s distinctive voice and its central role within chamber music. ViolaPlus was conceived as a space in which the viola’s musical partnerships — with strings, winds, piano, and voice — could unfold in their full depth and variety, allowing both the instrument itself and its repertoire to be experienced in a rich and multifaceted way.

From its beginnings in Leipzig, ViolaPlus brought together renowned artists, faculty members, and students across disciplines, fostering an environment of artistic exchange between generations. Over the years, the series has featured distinguished guest artists such as Brigitte Fassbaender, Erich Höbarth, the Vogler Quartet, Priya Mitchell, Philipp Moll, Nick Deutsch, Roglit Ishay, Michelle Breedt, Mariana Sirbu, Özgür Aydin, and the Leipzig/Los Angeles Viola Ensemble.

A defining aspect of ViolaPlus has been its commitment to exploring rarely performed repertoire and expanding awareness of the viola’s chamber music literature. Under Tatjana Masurenko’s artistic direction, the series has brought numerous seldom-heard works to the stage and initiated a wide range of regional and Leipzig premieres, including works by Edwin York Bowen, Benjamin Dale, A. Klughardt, R. Kahn, C. M. Loeffler, Frank Bridge, and Paul Hindemith, as well as significant modern works for viola and chamber ensemble by composers such as Kancheli, Denisov, and Korchmar.
In addition, many composers have written new works specifically for ViolaPlus, among them Nejat Başeğmezler, Johannes Dittmar, Andrès Maupoint, Aristides Strongylis, Dmitri Terzakis, and Spiros Mouchagier. Both the solo sonata and the sonata for viola and piano by Ernst Krenek received their Leipzig premieres within the framework of the series.

Building on its long-standing success in Europe, ViolaPlus later expanded to the United States and found a new home in Los Angeles, where Tatjana Masurenko brought the spirit of the Leipzig series to the Colburn School. In this new context, ViolaPlus continues to unite Colburn students, Colburn faculty, and international guest artists, preserving its core mission while engaging new audiences and artistic communities.

Throughout its history, ViolaPlus has also served as a platform for exceptional young musicians, presenting emerging artists alongside established performers within a shared artistic space.

Today, ViolaPlus stands as a living, evolving concert series with a history spanning more than two decades — a space for artistic dialogue, mentorship, and discovery, shaped by Tatjana Masurenko’s enduring commitment to the viola and its expressive possibilities.