Acting Associate Principal Violist of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Amy Kniffen enjoys a multi-faceted career as performer, educator and small business owner. A creative force within her community she has been a founding member of two string quartets, Quattra and The Castleton Quartet, as well as The Sassy Violist, her educational outreach that offers programs which blend history, literature and issues regarding social justice with live music. The ISO and the Sassy Violist have launched a new effort to bring these programs into Indianapolis schools.
An active chamber musician, Mrs. Kniffen has played with Suzuki and Friends, the Ronen ensemble, and on faculty recitals at Ball State, Butler University, University of Indianapolis, and University of Tennessee, Memphis. Founded during the recent pandemic, The Castleton Quartet specializes in playing curated concerts in unusual venues.
With a focus on education, Mrs. Kniffen has a private home studio, serves on the faculty at Anderson University and has been on the faculty of the Masterworks Festival. With the faculty from Masterworks, Mrs. Kniffen traveled to China on numerous occasions as a collaborative effort with the Yellow River Symphony Orchestra to reach across cultures and share music.
A graduate of Temple University and The Cleveland Institute of Music, Mrs. Kniffen studied viola with Emanuel Vardi, Leonard Mogill and Robert Vernon and chamber music with Peter Salaff and members of the Cavani Quartet. As Professor of Music at DePauw, she will be responsible for private viola instruction, chamber music and pedagogy.
Outside of music, Mrs. Kniffen enjoys the challenge of cultivating edible plants, mentoring within her community of faith, parenting three teenagers and being married to ISO Principal Tuba, Anthony Kniffen.