concertmaster

noun con·cert·mas·ter \ ˈkän(t)-sərt-ˌma-stər \

variants: or concertmeister play \ˈkän(t)-sərt-ˌmī-stər\

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of concertmaster

: the leader of the first violins of an orchestra and by custom usually the assistant to the conductor

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Recent Examples of concertmaster from the Web

In the field of violin, one of its most esteemed graduates is David Radzynski, currently the concertmaster of the Israel Philharmonic.

— patrick neas, kansascity, "Magnificent Mozart that ‘lifts you to God’ from William Baker Festival Singers | The Kansas City Star," 7 Apr. 2018
In her first season with the CCO, concertmaster Celeste Golden Boyer will be featured on the CCO premiere of Max Richter’s recomposed version of Vivaldi’s masterwork intermixed with the movements from the original.

— the enquirer, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra unveils eclectic Summermusik series for August 2018," 23 Mar. 2018
The world premiere of Jalbert’s two-movement Violin Concerto was performed last June by St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concertmaster Stephen Copes, with conductor Thomas Zehetmair leading the SPCO.

— elaine schmidt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee Symphony to perform Pierre Jalbert's new violin concerto," 14 Feb. 2018
The concerto was written for the concertmasters of all three orchestras to play.

— richard s. ginell, latimes.com, "For Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the welcome return of some familiar faces," 19 Mar. 2018
Joshua Bell brings the famed London chamber orchestra to Lincoln Center, leading it from the concertmaster’s chair and acting as the soloist in Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No. 2.

— david allen, New York Times, "8 Classical Music Concerts to See in NYC This Weekend," 15 Mar. 2018
The format of this concert has roots that date back to the Baroque era, wherein the concertmaster or a chord-playing musician like a harpsichordist often served as the leader of an orchestra.

— lawrence elizabeth knox, Houston Chronicle, "'Love' is unleashed in conductorless concert," 7 Feb. 2018
The momentous season begins with a threatened musicians strike and a search for a new concertmaster. Renews his contract through the 1999-2000 season.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is mourning the loss of former music director Jesus Lopez-Cobos," 2 Mar. 2018
The orchestra also faces technical hurdles, from the unusual tuning asked of the concertmaster and principal viola, to melodic interjections from a quartet of ocarinas that produce a sound similar to an ensemble of treble voices.

— elaine schmidt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Program change makes for an effective blend in Milwaukee Symphony performance," 2 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'concertmaster.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.