Fitz Gary: A Warm Note in the Garth Newel Piano Quartet
August 25, 2025 I Crista Cabe
When you meet Fitz Gary, violist of the Garth Newel Piano Quartet, the first thing you notice isn’t necessarily his viola—it’s the warmth of his smile. He has the kind of personality that makes people feel instantly comfortable, whether he’s rehearsing with colleagues, chatting with patrons after a concert, or cracking a dad joke to lighten the mood.
“He’s like a ray of sunshine,” says pianist Jeannette Fang, his Quartet colleague. “As a friend, he was one of the quickest to make. He’s one of the most genuine, drama-free people I’ve ever worked with, and he brings that warmth into everything he does.”
That balance—lighthearted, approachable, yet deeply serious and passionate about music—has shaped Fitz’s journey from a self-described “orch dork” in Charlottesville to a Fulbright Scholar in Germany, and now to violist and co-artistic director of one of the most distinctive chamber ensembles in the country.
A Lucky Line and the Viola’s Middle Child Charm
Fitz’s viola story began in elementary school, when high school musicians came to his school to demonstrate their instruments. “The line for the viola was the shortest,” he laughs, “so that’s what I picked.” The summer before fifth grade, his parents signed him up for lessons, and he started playing viola in the school’s program that fall. He already had music in his blood—he’d been playing piano since age seven.
It turned out to be a serendipitous choice. The viola, with its mellow alto clef and its reputation as the overlooked “middle child” of the string family, fit Fitz’s aesthetic personality perfectly. By high school, he was playing in a string quartet with classmates, performing at weddings, and proudly embracing his “orch dork” identity.
From Charlottesville to Juilliard to Lübeck
Fitz’s Fulbright project took him to Germany, where he worked with Barbara Westphal, who has a celebrated recording of Brahms’ two viola sonatas.
Fitz’s love of chamber music blossomed, leading him to the Cleveland Institute of Music for his undergraduate degree and then Juilliard for his master’s. After that came one of the defining experiences of his life: a Fulbright fellowship in Germany.
“That application process took about a year,” he recalls, comparing it to his eventual audition process with Garth Newel. He worked with celebrated violist Barbara Westphal at the Musikhochschule in Lübeck, focusing his project on the Brahms viola sonatas—cornerstones of the repertoire. “It was the best way to learn the German Romantic style,” he says.
Fitz ended up staying in Germany for three years, immersing himself in the music, culture, and festivals. When he finally returned to the States, he carried that deep connection to Brahms with him. “I love Brahms more now than ever,” he says. “Every time I perform his quartets, I discover something new.”
Fitz (lower right) played with the Grammy Award-winning NDR Sinfonieorchester (now called the Elbphilharmonie) in Hamburg, Germany, for two years.
Why Chamber Music?
For Fitz, chamber music feels like home. “It’s kind of like asking if you prefer a big party or a small dinner party,” he explains. “In an orchestra, you follow the conductor—you don’t talk during rehearsal. But in chamber music, everyone has a voice. At Garth Newel, everyone is eager to hear everyone else’s ideas. You experiment, you try things, and if it works, great. If not, you move on. The music is always alive.”
That spirit is exactly what defines the Garth Newel Piano Quartet. “Together, we have a good time, explore the repertoire from the classics to less well-known works, and grow as artists,” Fitz explains. “It’s a joy to dive into the works of composers I had not played before, such as Pēteris Vasks. I also hadn’t played Fauré before Garth Newel, and now it’s a highlight for me when we perform his two quartets; they are very special pieces—the opposite of Brahms, very French and colorful and moody.”
He’s grateful for the unique opportunity he landed at Garth Newel. Unlike many classical musicians who split their time between teaching and freelancing, Fitz gets to spend his professional life immersed in performance and artistic collaboration. “It’s a really fun job, performing all year long with the Quartet and with other exceptional artists, like Astrid Schween and Daniel Hope this summer. We have the freedom to think big and really go for it.”
The Garth Newel Piano Quartet: Teresa Ling, Jeannette Fang, Fitz Gary, and Isaac Melamed
Music, Meals, and Making a Difference
Fitz doesn’t just play music—he uses it to bring people together in meaningful ways. In 2012, while still a Juilliard student, he launched Music Feeds Us, a concert series that raises funds for local food banks. The very first concert in Charlottesville drew nearly 400 people and provided over 26,000 meals. He kept the series going until 2018, when he could no longer afford the enormous time commitment.
After joining the Quartet in 2022, Fitz revived the project at Garth Newel, where the infrastructure and collaborative approach have made it feasible. “That’s the privilege of Garth Newel. We have the creative freedom to embark on new projects that are a good fit,” he says.
Music Feeds Us has grown into a major initiative with community partners like Windy Cove Presbyterian Church, which hosts the annual concerts each December, and the Omni Homestead Resort, where the Emerging Artist Fellows played a benefit concert earlier this summer. All proceeds benefit the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, the largest hunger relief organization in central and western Virginia.
“It’s inspiring to give back to the community in this way,” Fitz says. “Helping address food insecurity through music feels truly meaningful.”
A Life Beyond the Viola
Outside of rehearsals and concerts, Fitz’s creativity spills into other areas. He loves architecture and design, often rearranging his house and even building his own furniture. “Music is ephemeral,” he says. “Furniture, you can hold in your hands.”He shares his Staunton home with his partner, pianist and host Zsolt Bognár, who runs the acclaimed interview series Living the Creative Life. Together they enjoy cooking, wine tastings, and traveling—especially to Japan, where Zsolt’s family has strong connections.
Still, Fitz describes himself as a homebody at heart, grateful for his Shenandoah Valley and Bath County communities. His mother lives nearby in downtown Staunton, and he’s put a lot of love into renovating his own house outside of Staunton. “It was sort of backward,” he admits with a grin. “Most people get the job first and then move. I moved first, and then got the job.”
The Fitz Factor
What makes Fitz such a beloved presence in the Garth Newel Piano Quartet isn’t just his musicianship—it’s his spirit. He’s earnest without being heavy, goofy without being careless. Patrons adore him, colleagues lean on him, and his viola—warm and resonant, much like him—fills the ensemble with depth.
“In performance, he has this extra kick,” Jeannette observes. “He bumps it up a notch from rehearsals, which I really enjoy. He’s very passionate, just a great performer.”
“He brings a sense of sincerity and warmth that’s really rare,” she continues. “Not just musically, but personally. He reminds us that honesty in how we act and how we are is the most important thing.”
And that may be Fitz Gary’s true gift: showing that music, like life, is richest when it’s shared openly—with humor, kindness, and heart.