Player Biographies: Mary Nabours, Viola
Mary
Nabours was trained as a pianist and earned a music degree
from UC Berkeley. However after over twenty years as a
professional accompanist and piano teacher, she grew
fascinated with early second- language acquisition and decided
to become a Spanish Immersion teacher. During one of her
family's yearly summer stays in Guadalajara, Mexico the sound
of a viola made by a luthier friend so enthralled her that she
determined to learn to play it, eventually giving up the
piano entirely. Beginning an under-chin instrument -- at
age 40 and essentially self-taught -- proved a serious
challenge, but it's a decision she has not regretted.
Now retired after three decades of Immersion teaching,
musically she has never been happier. She loves playing in
chamber groups and is a violist in four local orchestras.