Ethan Hecht has served on both sides of the curtain in his 25-year career. He is the Fort Collins Symphony’s Principal Violist and Librarian. Hecht has performed with virtually every professional orchestra between Cheyenne and Colorado Springs. Previous performing positions include principal viola of the Battle Creek Symphony (MI) and the Colorado MahlerFest orchestra as well as section viola of the Greeley and Boulder Philharmonics, Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra, the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, and the Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra. Hecht is also a sought after music administrator who currently serves as the Executive Director of the Colorado MahlerFest. He has also served as the Executive Director of the Boulder Chorale and worked for the Colorado Music Festival and Center for Musical Arts (Boulder and Lafayette) for 10 years as Center Director and Orchestra Personnel Manager.
Hecht started playing the violin at the age of three in Oak Park, Il. He began his studies with Brenda Wurman and then Michael Hining, winning his high school Concerto Competition and performing Vaughn Williams’ “The Lark Ascending.” Hecht continued his studies with Laura Klugherz at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY.
Hecht came to Colorado in 1999 to work on a Masters of Music, studying with Oswald Lehnert and Erika Eckert at the University of Colorado-Boulder. In the fall of 2003 Mr. Hecht attended Michigan State University to pursue a Doctorate and study viola with Robert Dan.
Hecht lives in Lafayette, CO with his wife Jenny, his daughter Emma, two dogs, one cat, and Arlo the leopard gecko. He enjoys cooking, hiking, camping, and paddle boarding, is huge fan of the band Phish, and during the winter, attempts to ski weekly with his wife. He plays a viola made by Michael Darnton in 2004. Darnton documented the making of the viola at https://darntonviolins.com/making-a-viola/.
