Ora Fay Oviatt, the Headmistress of the Uintah School
OfMusic And The Arts program, began her
artistic career at the age of 10. She attended UtahStateUniversity where she pursued music and
home economics. While at USU, Oviatt studied voice with Walter Welti and
performed leading roles in many operas such as "Carmen," "Madame
Butterfly," "Gianni Schicci" and "Hansel and Gretel"
as well as others. Oviatt also performed with the USU select touring choir, the
Chansonetts. She studied flute and piccalo from staff at USU and performed in
the Aggie band. Oviatt also studied piano and organ at USU as well as voice
under Naunie Gardner.
After graduating from USU, Oviatt began her teaching career as the band and
choir teacher at AltamontHigh School in 1958. She has
taught continuously from that time with positions in choir, strings, band and
piano at VernalJunior
High School, UintahHigh School, USU, and in
the private sector.
Ora Fay received her master's degree in educational administration and early
childhood education from the University
of Utah in 1979. While at
the University, Oviatt also studied voice from Blanche Christensen and J.
Marlow Nielson.. She cooperated with Betty Jean Chipman in the training of
vocal students at that time. Oviatt received her training in brass and strings
at BYU. She has been on the conducting staff of Utah Valley Youth Symphony and has also
conducted a concert for the Guanari Duo with Leonard Brauss and LoyeAnn Eyring
of the Utah Symphony.
Oviatt introduced the Suzuki string method to Eastern Utah
in 1979. Through her work with the Suzuki program she was instrumental in
bringing the Matsomoto touring group and Rocky Mountain Strings to the Vernal, UT area. Oviatt organized the Uintah Community Schools Youth Orchestra
program, which provided music instruction for ages three and older until its
termination from the public schools in 1991 when Oviatt carried the program
into the private sector.
Ora Fay has Suzuki teacher training in violin books 1-8, cello books 1-8, viola books 1-6, bass books 1-3, classical guitar books 1-3, and piano books 1 & 2.
Violin faculty memberPhilip Oviatt has a Masters Degree in Communications from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as well as a lifetime of violin performance and teaching experience. Philip studied with Jack Ashton (Utah Symphony), Prof. Mark Perlman (University of Arizona), and Shakeh Ghoukasian (UNLV). Oviatt performed with the Utah Valley Youth Orchestra London Touring Group, University of Arizona Symphony, UNLV Symphony, and Weber State University Symphony. He was the first lead fiddler of the Diamond Mountain Dandies, leading them in their performance at Disneyland. Philip performed in Vernal with the Suzuki Matsomoto Touring Group under Dr Honda, Dr Suzuki’s assistant; was accepted to study violin in Matsomoto with Dr. Suzuki, and was one of the first in Utah to receive his Suzuki violin training in Utah through Utah State University. Philip is an associate Suzuki instructor and will be continuing his teacher training through the Suzuki Association of America. When not teaching at USOMATA, Oviatt is a full-time Language Arts instructor at the Vernal Middle School.
Adjunct
faculty and board member Merietta Oviatt has enjoyed a prestigious
career as a musician for over 20 years. Oviatt is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts Candidate at the University of Oregon in Viola performance. She received her Master's degree in Music Performance from UNLV in August of 2009. Prior to Eugene and Las Vegas, Oviatt
lived in Louisiana where she taught Suzuki strings at J Wallace James
Arts and Technology Academy, Acadiana Symphony Conservatory, and Pomco
Studios. Oviatt has performed with the Acadiana Symphony, Symphony of
SouthEast Texas, Baton Rouge Symphony, the International Chamber
Orchestra and has served as Principal Violist for the Rapides Symphony
and the UNLV Symphony. Ms. Oviatt won the California Young Artist
Competition, was Reserve Champion at the UNLV Concerto Competition, and made her debut at the age of 16 with the Desert
Symphony Orchestra. Oviatt is a regular performer for the annual Latin Grammy
Awards, has performed for the broadway hit "The Producers" as well as "The Lion King" , has performed on the soundtrack for an independant Sundance film, and recently performed under the direction of Itzhak Perlman.
Oviatt has studied with Allen deVeritch, Jersey Kosmala, Andrew
Duckles, Matthew Johnson, Karen Ritscher, Dr. Leslie Straka, and Helen Callus. She has recorded two CD's, both of which
are available for purchase at USOMATA. Merietta has completed all of her Suzuki Viola Teacher Training, and is currently working to complete the training for all of the violin books.
