Freya Downey, violist, advocates for mindfulness, accessibility, and creativity in classical music through classical performance, improvisation, and composition. Her most recent performances include a solo recital entitled “All is Well,” a faculty recital at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and solo improvisations at the Transporter Series in Boston, MA. Freya was awarded the Graduate Arts Research Grant from the Boston University Arts Initiative for her composition, Presence in Sound, a Deep Listening and improvisation-based viola concerto, intended to invite musicians and audience members alike to engage in listening as a form of creativity. Her work as a soloist was featured in Project Pause: 4 recitals in 8 months, founded in Oklahoma, to explore connective performances and expand awareness of her instrument as a soloist voice in a format that is welcoming and accessible for all. As a chamber musician, she has appeared at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall alongside the Fest Quartet as the winner of Baylor University’s Semper Pro Musica Chamber Music Competition. Additionally, she was also the founding violist of the Claeys Undergraduate String Quartet at the University of Oklahoma. Freya is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in Viola Performance at Boston University and holds degrees from Baylor University and the University of Oklahoma. Her primary instructors include Michelle LaCourse, Kathryn Steely, and Mark Neumann. In her free time, Freya enjoys painting, reading, fiber arts, and spending time with her dog.