Virginia Lawrence began studying the violin at the age of seven in the music program of the Midland, Michigan public schools. In high school she converted to viola, seduced by its wonderful tone and the richness it adds to the chamber music and orchestral repertoires. She studied viola with Dr. Harry Nordstrom at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and with Dr. Kurt Frederick at the University of New Mexico, where she earned her bachelor’s degree.

Ms. Lawrence is an original member of The Santa Fe Symphony and the New Mexico Philharmonic, and was a member of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra in Albuquerque for thirty-five years. She was a founding member of the Helios String Quartet and has played with the Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque, the Arioso Chamber Players, the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Oregon Coast Music Festival, the Flagstaff Music Festival, the Sunriver Music Festival, and as a baroque violist with the Albuquerque Baroque Players. 

Known to her associates as Ginger, Ms. Lawrence has two grown children, both of whom are musicians, and two granddaughters. She teaches viola, violin, Irish fiddle and piano and in her spare time, she proofreads The Santa Fe Symphony program book.  She plays an ergonomic viola made in 2000 by David Rivinus of Newberg, Oregon.