by Kelsey Lyons

Born in October of 1904 and residing at 1224 North Prospect Street, Viola Wasterlain was a Tacoma-based musician who would make a name for herself through her extraordinary violin skills. Throughout her life, Viola would be recognized for her remarkable talent and would go on to give numerous performances all over the United States, one of which would have the attendance of first lady Eleanor Roosevelt herself.

One of her earliest documented performances came from an article printed in June of 1918, in which Viola was cited as the violinist for a commencement ceremony. That same year, Viola would perform a number of pieces alongside her mother and leader of the Foundation Shipyard band, Mrs. Fred Wasterlain, during the annual winter fine arts exhibition hosted by the Tacoma Fine Arts Association.

A few months later, Viola would enter a contest to try and win the title and crown of “Ms. Columbia,” an award given at the Tacoma Peace Jubilee. The Tacoma Peace Jubilee was an event held at the Stadium Bowl in Tacoma and was dedicated to men in the Northwest who had fought in World War I. This beauty contest was put on as an effort to raise funds for constructing a memorial and the winner would receive a Liberty Six car of their own. The article noted Wasterlain as one of the most serious contenders for the award based on musical appearances and achievements around Tacoma thus far. It was unclear who actually came in first and would hold the title of “Miss Columbia,” but the third-place winner was a girl by the name of Ella Gangye, pictured below in a 2005 print of The Magazine Of Northwest History. An original program for this event is currently for sale on Abe Books for a whopping $150.00.

Just another few short years after this lavish event, Viola would go on to study music and further improve upon her skills as a musician in Los Angeles. Her mentor, Gregor Cherinavsky, was a decorated ‘master’ in his field and had acknowledged his pupil’s abilities, ecstatic to begin teaching her. An article published by the News Tribune May 4, 1921 documenting the intriguing letters Viola had been sending to her mother during her time in California. They documented a notable reception that she performed at, a show in honor of Col. J.B. Lankershon, a Los Angeles based capitalist who had plans to leave the sunny city for Paris, France. The letters also included the hearing given to Viola by another great violin master, Jan Kubelik, who was astonished at Viola’s talent.

Shortly after this event, the Rialto theatre would present Blood and Sand, a film starring an actor by the name of Rudolph Valentino. The production told a story of a Spanish boy living in poverty, later becoming a recognized bull fighter. Viola Wasterlain and another esteemed violinist known as George Skaugset were be featured in the musical prologue to the show, and article expressed how she never failed to excite patrons with her attendance and exquisite understanding of music. Interestingly, this newspaper notes how Viola was the daughter of “Mr. and Mrs. Phil N. Ashmun,” possibly meaning this was around the time her mother remarried. In future articles, reports would refer to Viola as “Viola Wasterlain-Ashmun.”

April 17, 1924, The “Lillies of the Field” was an Easter Sunday concert premiering at the Rialto Theater, a show that would be referred to as “Tacoma’s First High-Class Theater Concert.” This musical gathering would feature a number of Tacoma’s valued musicians, including Viola herself. The concert began at 2:30 pm and required seats to be reserved in advance, with the promise of “beautiful women” and “gorgeous gowns.” The news clipping featured a lily flower, with the head of a woman sitting in the middle.

It seemed as if Viola was only becoming greater in her field, as in 1926, Viola’s would accomplish another terrific and musical feat when she received an acceptance letter and scholarship from the prestigious Juilliard Musical Foundation. To celebrate the momentous occasion, Tacoma’s Chamber of Commerce presented a farewell concert of sorts at the First Baptist Church, and would announce the even via a small excerpt in the News Tribune. The event would take place that Thursday to allow the chance for Tacoma to say to goodbye to Viola before she parted for New York the following week. In October that same year, a telegram would be send to Tacoma informing the press of Viola’s successful examination with her mentor and most notable violinist in New York, Paul Kochanski.

Upon her return the next year, it seems Viola began picking up students of her own. According to a News Tribune article printed in May of 1927, The First Baptist Church would host a concert for 25 of Wasterlain’s students to perform. They would perform an overture known as “The Bohemian Girl,” alongside an additional ensemble solo and quartet pieces. At this point in time, Viola was a mere 22 years old and successfully training a significant number of students at “Wasterlain Studios,” with only more successes heading her way.

Viola’s numerous performances during this time period took her all over Tacoma and to all sorts of events, get-togethers, shows, etc. One interesting gathering to note was a show-like event in 1932 that would display the various furniture offerings of a company called Schoenfelds. Being the company’s second annual “Style Show,” they ensured the atmosphere to be suitable as they hired the one and only Viola Wasterlain to provide music while guests viewed the home-furnishings and mingled. The excerpt from the article would remind you of a car advertisement today, as the furnishings would be referred to as “the new 1932 home-furnishings you’ve been waiting for!” There was no admission fee and it was a place for the various furniture companies to gather in one spot for all to come and browse.

Though Viola has had her fair share of momentous shows and exceptional performances, one in particular would come as an interesting notion to most when it’s learned that the first lady herself had attended. In January of 1941, Eleanor Roosevelt documented a day in her diary in which she watched “a musicale [she] enjoyed very much.” The first lady noted the charm of the show and the delightful violin playing of Viola Wasterlain.

The previous Viola Wasterlain, now Viola Bovingdon would pass away July 2, 1983, in California where she had been residing. During her life, she would accomplish astonishing feats, such as playing in Carnegie Hall and becoming and active musician in the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Viola was one of the most notable violinist in the nation and an exceptional woman based out of Tacoma, where she passed on her techniques and teachings to numerous students, and her music, to all who heard it.

About the Author

Kelsey Lyons prepared this article as her final project for TARTS 225: Musical History of Tacoma, taught by Kim Davenport at the University of Washington, Tacoma. At the time she took the class in Spring Quarter 2023, she was a senior majoring in biomedical sciences.