Rebecca Gitter began violin studies at the age of seven and viola studies at thirteen. In May 2001 she received her bachelor of music degree from The Cleveland Institute of Music where she was a student of Robert Vernon. While at CIM, she was the recipient of The Institute’s Annual Viola Prize and the Robert Vernon Prize in Viola. Among other honors, she was the 2000 recipient of Toronto’s Ben Steinberg Jewish Musical Legacy Award. Rebecca joined the viola section of The BSO in August 2001.