Faculty Profiles

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Dr. Ames Asbell

  • Professor - School of Music
Portrait of Dr. Ames Asbell

Biography and education

Violist Ames Asbell has performed around the world in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to clubs. She appears on international releases by Nonesuch, Harmonia Mundi, Naxos, Sony, Centaur, and more, and on film scores and broadcasts including Waking Life and Austin City Limits. Recent performances include International Viola Congresses in France, Brazil, Thailand, Poland and New Zealand, and recitals in Scotland, South Africa, Japan, and Mexico. Ames performs with the Tosca String Quartet, Austin Opera (Principal), Austin Symphony, Arizona Musicfest, and Philharmonie Austin (historical performance). She spent the early 2000s performing and touring with rock icon David Byrne, and has also toured extensively with Grammy Award-winning choral ensemble Conspirare in their production of Craig Hella Johnson’s fusion oratorio, Considering Matthew Shepard. A dynamic and passionate viola artist-teacher, she is currently Professor of Viola at Texas State University, Director of the Texas State String Project, and President of the American Viola Society.

Education:
University of Texas at Austin, Doctor of Musical Arts in Viola Performance
East Carolina University, Master of Music in Viola Performance
Furman University, Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance
  • Asbell, Stephanie Ames (Principal), Martin, Joey (Co-Principal). The Anniversary of an American Tragedy: A New Interdisciplinary Production of Stations of Mychal, Research Enhancement Grant Program, Texas State University, $24000. (Submitted: October 7, 2025, Funded: January 2026 - December 2026). Grant.
  • Asbell, Stephanie Ames (Principal), Hamelin, Karla M (Co-Principal). Texas State Research Enhancement Program Grant: Expanding the Viola/Cello Repertoire by Female Composers from Underrepresented Populations, Texas State University, $16000. (Submitted: 2021, Funded: January 2022 - May 2023). Grant.
  • Novak, Richard Albert (Principal), Asbell, Stephanie Ames (Co-Principal). Texas State Research Enhancement Program Grant: The Saint of 9/11: A New Song Cycle for Tenor, Viola, and Piano, Based on the Life, Ministry, & Death of Fr. Mychal Judge, Texas State University, $16000. (Submitted: 2019, Funded: January 2020 - May 2021). Grant.
  • Asbell, Stephanie Ames, Tast, Rebecca Lynn. National String Project Consortium, Texas State String Project/National String Project Consortium, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $3500.00. (Funded: August 2018 - August 2020). Grant.
  • Asbell, Stephanie Ames (Co-Principal), Hamelin, Karla Michelle (Principal). Research Enhancement Program Grant: Premier Recordings for Viola/Cello by female composers, Texas State University, $16000. (Submitted: October 16, 2017, Funded: May 1, 2018 - August 30, 2018). Grant.
  • Salfen, K., Davis, R., Asbell, S. A., Martin, J., & Novak, R. (2024). Stations of Mychal (Vol. CRC4084). Baton Rouge, LA, United States: Centaur Records.
  • Violist, Ballet Austin/Austin Symphony Orchestra, "The Nutcracker". December 2025.
    Performances:
    • December 5, 2025 The Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX.
    • December 7, 2025 The Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX.
    • December 13, 2025 The Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX.
    • December 14, 2025 The Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX.
    • December 19, 2025 The Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX.
    • December 20, 2025 The Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX.
    • December 21, 2025 The Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX.
  • Violist, Austin Symphony Orchestra Pops Series - "Home Alone" (film with live orchestral score). December 2025.
    Performances:
    • December 16, 2025 The Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX.
    • December 17, 2025 The Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX.
  • Yellow Dog Studio - Songs for Tom Keith. 2025.
  • Principal Violist, Austin Opera - Celebrate Opera! (Gala Concert). November 2025.
    Performances:
    • Austin Opera. November 15, 2025 The Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX.
    • Austin Opera. November 16, 2025 The Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX.
View all scholarly/creative works
  • Award / Honor Recipient: American Viola Society Distinguished Service Award, American Viola Society. June 6, 2026
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Presidential Distinction Award, Service, Texas State University. August 2025
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Presidential Distinction Award, Service, Texas State University. August 2024
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Presidential Distinction Award, Service, Texas State University. August 2022
  • Award / Honor Recipient: College Achievement Award, Scholarly/Creative, Texas State University - College of Fine Arts and Communication. August 20, 2020
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  1. President

    American Viola Society

  2. Other

    Texas State String Project

  3. Member

    Personnel Committee

  4. Member

    BA-Music Upper Level Review Committee

  5. Other

    String Area, School of Music

  6. Member

    Texas State String Camp Faculty

  7. View all activities