Avery, a native of Turnersville, NJ, began her musical career with the violin in the third grade. Her interest blossomed during private lessons through middle and high school, growing into a passion when she picked up the viola. In high school she performed with her school, All-South Jersey, and All-State Orchestras.

Avery describes her composition. Listen to Colleen Avery’s Job 42:1-6, for Viola.
"While it is impossible for me to describe the exact emotions I felt during composition, there were certain musical aspects I thought would fit best. From the beginning I knew this piece should begin in a minor key, creating a certain tension and restlessness for the listener. As I began to play, the addition of chords served to emphasize the initial frustration and anger that Job feels toward the Lord. Syncopated rhythms, those that stress normally unstressed beats, help in amplifying the anxiety that I was feeling. The first section basically asks of the Lord: “Why?” I decided to move the composition into C major key at this point, as Job finally “sees the Lord.” Some sort of understanding has taken place in his heart, and he is calmed. The tone becomes brighter, with a less syncopated feel at this point. It ends with the simplicity and softness of a quiet arpeggio further emphasizing the peace and faith that Job eventually finds with himself, his situation, and his Lord."

When first arriving at Villanova, Avery found fellow freshman with similar interests. A group of female musicians bonded and formed “Les Six,” a sextet that performs at University events, such as an inauguration reception for the new President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A. in September.

Les Six perform at the Philadelphia Museum of Art during a September inauguration reception for new University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue,  O.S.A. (Colleen Avery is second from left)

Avery (center) with Dr. M. Louise
Fitzpatrick, Connelly Endowed Dean
and Professor, College of Nursing and
Dr. Edwin Goff, director of the Honors
Program at Villanova University

“My approach was to use the most passionate medium in my life: music. The viola has always been my source of release from stress and outlet for emotion. Using my viola and my past experience was the only way I could even come close to feeling the way Job might have felt, and this composition is the product,” explains Avery. She summarized the experience of composing around the Lord’s testing of the faith of the virtuous Job as “emotionally charged.” “The piece is titled Job 42:1-6 because this was the verse that impacted me the most. It is a modern piece for solo viola, which is extremely passionate, an almost ‘crying out’ to the Lord in the way Job did, and a more peaceful resolution at the conclusion,” she offers.

Colleen Avery selected Bach’s Suite I,
Prélude for the College of Nursing’s
Convocation in May 2006. She performed
the piece in memory of a recently
deceased nursing student.

Avery describes the process of composing, “I realized that it would be impossible for me to know the extent of anyone’s faith, other than my own. With that, I put myself in Job’s shoes, by assessing the trials of my own life, the emotions I’ve felt, and the way they have shaped my faith. I specifically focused on the final chapter of Job’s story because these were the words with which I identified most, ‘I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know. I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you.’ I believe this was Job’s turning point in becoming a knight of faith, something I would not be able to describe in my own words. This composition is an attempt to identify with Job using my own emotion and experience as a lens.”

She hit the right note. Colleen Avery can now add “award winning composer” to her list of accomplishments.

Colleen Avery
Class of 2009
Turnersville, New Jersey