The Score | Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Violist Nelson Retires

Fifty-nine years is a long time to play with an orchestra, but all good things must come to an end. In April, Carole Nelson (right), who had played viola in North Dakota’s Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra since she was in high school, retired. She gave her final performances with the orchestra at North Dakota State University’s Festival Concert Hall. Nelson, 76, still plays in the Dakota Rose String Quartet, and she has taught a generation of musicians in the public schools and privately. In fact, Fargo-Moorhead Symphony violinists Jane Linde Capistran and Mary Weisser—colleagues of Nelson who also perform in Dakota Rose String Quartet—stated in the West Fargo Pioneer that Nelson had taught both their daughters violin. Executive Director Linda Boyd described Nelson as “absolutely one of the unsung musical heroes of our community. So many of her students went on to accomplish great things.”