Myra Kestenbaum

US violist, violinist and composer, born in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. She originally studied violin, but while studying at Juillard, she was urged to make viola her first priority. She was the principal violist of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra from 1972 to 1979. She was also a member of the Los Angeles String Quartet. Her first major symphonic work "String Portraits" premiered in 1994. Died in 2001 of cancer in Santa Monica, California.