Maiya Papach named principal viola at SPCO

Maiya Papach, one of the stars of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, has been named principal viola. Papach joined the ensemble in 2008 and she has served as acting principal since 2009.

"Maiya is that rare musician who knows how to lead from within, perfect quality for a principal violist," said Kyu-Young Kim, the senior director of artistic planning. He called her the "perfect person for the job."

Papach is frequently featured in small ensembles and solo work. She also has been active outside the SPCO, as a founding member of the International Contemporary Ensemble and a frequent performer with Accordo, the Twin Cities chamber group.

A 2013 McKnight Fellow, Papach began serving as acting principal after the departure of Sabina Thatcher in 2009. She's a graduate of Oberlin and Juilliard.