Strings

Candice Amato

Assistant Principal Viola

Originally from North Potomac, Maryland, Candice Amato moved to Tucson, Arizona in 2014 to start her career as a violist with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. She was appointed Assistant Principal Viola as of the 2023-2024 season.

In addition to her work with the TSO, Candice is dedicated to exploring creative ways to connect with people through classical music. She is the Artistic Director of the Tucson Chapter of “If Music Be the Food,” a concert series that raises support for people facing food insecurity in communities around the country. She has also participated in many local musical endeavors that engage with audiences in new and non-traditional ways, including Chamberhood, a recital series presented by Arizona Friends of Chamber Music, and Nogales Barocco, an early music ensemble based in the border town of Nogales, AZ.

Candice has established herself as a sought-after teacher in Tucson, where she maintains a private studio of violin and viola students. Previously, she served as a visiting faculty member at the University of Arizona’s Fred Fox School of Music, where she taught a full studio of undergraduate and graduate viola students, as well as chamber music studies and orchestral repertoire classes.

Candice received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music. She went on to earn a full scholarship to the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, where she received a Master of Music degree. Her primary teachers include Carol Rodland, Victoria Chiang, and Li-Kuo Chang. Summer festival appearances include the Aspen Music Festival (CO), Aldeburgh Festival (UK), Britten-Pears Programme (UK), National Orchestral Institute (MD), Manchester Music Festival (VT), and Castleton Opera Festival (VA).