Other Works:

Aphorisms for Strings

Commissioned by Sherwood Hall Orchestra, La Jolla, California

Premiered in 1963, Daniel Lewis, Conductor

Memorialis for String Orchestra

Commissioned by San Diego Symphony

Premiered in 1958, Barati, Conductor

Music for Brass

Commissioned by San Diego Chapter of "Young Audiences of America"

Premiered by members of the San Diego Symphony, 1968

String Quartet No. 2

Performed by the Modern Arts String Quartet, Alaska Music Festival, , Robert Shaw, Director, 1961

Rhapsody for 'Cello and Piano

Also exists with orchestrated accompaniment (in manuscript)

Performances by world-class cellist, Milos Sadlo, Czech Republic; San Francisco cellist, Douglas Ischar in recital on European Tour and other performances on college and university campuses in the U.S. 

Listed in Farris Book under Chamber Music for 'Cello and Piano, Ybarra Music Publishers 

Divertimento for Violin, French Horn & String Bass

Premiered in San Diego, 1963

Performed by Principal Players of the St. Louis Symphony on their 1986 Chamber Music Series.  Well received --- good reviews in St. Louis paper.

Performed by Principal Players of the Seattle Symphony, 1989, in Chamber Music Series.  Well received.

Other performances in Vienna and Prague, University of Colorado, University of San Diego.

Little Suite for Two Violins

San Diego Premiere, 1966

Written for somewhat advanced students to acquaint them with some of the problems associated with 20th Century music. 

Many student recital programs as well as concert performances by artists featuring music for two violins unaccompanied. 

Little Suite Antique for String Orchestra

Intended for young players, junior high - senior high level.

The Arioso is particularly attractive and could be published separately, perhaps.

Performances by Youth Orchestras, school groups in various places in the U.S., including amateur chamber music players seminars.

Andante for String Orchestra

Numerous performances.

Premiered by El Paso Symphonette, Abraham Chavez Conductor.

Other performances, El Paso Symphony, Orlando Barrera Conductor, Berkeley Youth Symphony (California), Civic Youth Orchestra (San Diego), Daniel Lewis, Conductor, various University Orchestras and Festival Groups such as All-City High School Orchestra, Las Vegas, Nevada, Composer Guest Conductor.

VARIABLES for STRINGS, Neil A. Kjos, Music Publishers, San Diego, California

Group of 9 Violin and Cello Etudes arranged as concert pieces, also for unison study and each etude has been provided with a duo part.  A piano accompaniment is included.  Very useful in school orchestra study/performance and on student recitals.  Published in 1990.

Publishing rights of all works other than Variables for Strings have been returned to Dr. Kolar by former publishers and are his property.

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Founder of the University of San Diego Symphony and Emeritus Professor of Music at USD, where he chaired the Fine Arts Dept., Dr. Kolar has long been active in the musical  life of San Diego.  He has held the position of Concertmaster with the San Diego Symphony under the baton of Robert Shaw, the Sherwood Hall Orchestra and the La Jolla Chamber Orchestra.  He also has appeared as violinist with the Alcala Trio and was for many years a member of the Modern Arts Quartet.  A frequent recitalist, his San Diego performances include two appearances as featured local artist with the Grossmont Concert Association. 

Dr. Kolar’s formal music education began in Chicago with Frank Jerabek, former concertmaster of the National Opera in Prague.  After WWII, he continued his education at DePaul University, where he studied composition with Leon Stein, then went on to Northwestern University to receive his M.M. in performance/composition.

During 1961-62, he traveled to the Academy of Music in Vienna, Austria, where he studied with Hans Jelinek, the author of the first treatise on 12-tone composition, and also with Alfred Uhl.  Dr. Kolar was the violinist for the first performance of his Divertimento for Violin, Horn. And String Bass at the Academy.

Further study was done at the University of Southern California with violinist Eudice Shapiro and in composition under Ingolf Dahl in the doctoral program.  Professor Kolar holds a doctorate from the University of Colorado.

An active composer, he has written commissioned works for the San Diego Symphony (1958) as well as for San Diego’s Chapter of “Young Audiences of America” (1968).  His Variables for Strings (Kjos 1990) are widely used by schools nationwide for Intermediate/Advanced string groups.

Two of the four "Butterfly Books" for beginning to advanced students.

All Copyrights to page design Reserved, U.S. and International, GBSPublishing.

Dr. Kolar's works are being promoted by GBSPublishing and sold by GBS and other retailers. 

Many are carried by Southwest Strings in Tucson and other retailers can order from Dr. Kolar directly or through Kjos in San Diego, one of his publishers.  Below, we showcase a few of his works.