Maureen Sheehan is a recent graduate of Oberlin with degrees in Viola Performance, under the guidance of Peter Slowik, and Anthropology. Throughout her studies, she has accrued accolades in both disciplines, including the 2023 Comfort Starr Award for excellence in Anthropology, the Ford Endowed Anthropology Fund, first prize at Ohio Viola Society’s 2021 Competition for Young Violists, and the Howard E. Leisinger Viola Prize at Tuesday Musical’s 2023 Scholarship Competition. This year, Maureen performed in two tours to Carnegie Hall, notably serving as principal violist of the Oberlin Orchestra for their United Nations Gala Concert there in December. In addition to her mentors at Oberlin, Maureen has enjoyed opportunities to work with artists including the Cavani and Jupiter String Quartets, Jodi Levitz, James Dunham, Sally Chisholm, Mathieu Herzog, and Peggy Pearson, among many others. In addition to her studies in classical viola, Maureen spent her fall 2021 semester abroad in Ireland learning traditional fiddle from musicians around the country. This fall she will begin a Master’s in Music Performance at New England Conservatory with Nick Cords, and is excited to explore the Irish music scene in Boston alongside her classical viola studies.