Brenton Caldwell exemplifies the versatility of the viola as a dynamic performer on the concert stage and an inspirational educator in the teaching studio.

Praised by critics for his “attractive and memorable sound” he has toured five continents as a recitalist, chamber musician, orchestral player, and pedagogue.

Brenton has performed in the viola sections of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. Praised to have a “fluid command of the fingerboard”, his festival appearances include Ravinia, Verbier, Music from Angel Fire, Music@Menlo, Festival Mecklenburg Vorpommen, the Perlman Music Program, and the Banff Centre where he served as teaching assistant to legendary violist and pedagogue Karen Tuttle.

Brenton dedicates much of his time to teaching and promoting growth in the next generation of musicians. Currently, Brenton teaches at at Dallas College and the University of North Texas as a teaching fellow. He was an inaugural fellow in Carnegie Hall and the Juilliard School’s Ensemble Connect. During the day he participated in interactive educational activities in the NYC Public School system and at night he performed chamber music at both venues. Additionally, he’s spent his summers teaching at the Curtis Young Artist Summer Program in Philadelphia and the Texas Strings Camp in Austin.

A proud public school kid from Tyler, Texas, Brenton began studying the viola at the age of 12 thanks to his local school’s orchestra program. He subsequently received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, an Artist Diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music, and a Master’s of Music from Lynn University. Brenton is currently pursuing doctoral studies at the University of North Texas. His doctoral research will explore different methods of learning the challenging viola sonatas of Paul Hindemith. Brenton’s infatuation with Hindemith’s viola music dually began as a teenager when he first heard his future mentor Kim Kashkashian’s recording and started studying the scores. Brenton will further review the genius behind Hindemith’s ability to juxtapose beautiful reflective melodies and fiery passages that stretch the limits of the viola.

In 1953, Brenton’s family founded the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler. Brenton has a deep love for animals, particularly crocodilians. Much like the viola and the music of Paul Hindemith, crocodilians are adaptable yet often misunderstood.