Ellen Townley

Miss Townley began playing viola at age 11 as a 5th grader in Norman Public Schools. Her love of music led her to University of North Texas where she studied viola with George Papich and pursued a degree in Music Education. Following graduation from North Texas, she began a 33 year career as a public school Orchestra director.

In 1994, Miss Townley spent a year in Chicago working on a Masters in Viola Performance at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, studying viola with Dr. Peter Slowik. During this time she performed in the viola section of the Chicago Civic Orchestra as well as the Northwestern University Orchestra under the direction of Victor Yampolsky. She graduated from Northwestern in June of 1995.

During Miss Townley's teaching career, she has maintained an active playing career, performing with Richardson Symphony Orchestra and Allen Philharmonic here in the Dallas area. During the 17 years spent in the Houston area, she performed with Symphony of Southeast Texas, Brazosport Symphony Orchestra, Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, in addition to working as a freelance violist.