instrumentalist

noun in·stru·men·tal·ist \ ˌin(t)-strə-ˈmen-tᵊl-ist \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of instrumentalist

1 : a player on a musical instrument

2 : an exponent of instrumentalism

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instrumentalist

adjective

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Examples of instrumentalist in a Sentence

he excels as a conductor, a composer, and as an instrumentalist

Recent Examples of instrumentalist from the Web

Dave Stryker Quintet Among those joining guitarist Stryker will be saxophonist Bob Mintzer and Baltimore multi-instrumentalist Warren Wolf, newly named to the Jazz Faculty at Peabody.

— chris kaltenbach, baltimoresun.com, "Light, a Kink and 'Grease' — the best of Baltimore's arts and entertainment scene this week," 8 Apr. 2018
Technology 23-year-old musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier explains the concept of harmony to 5 different people; a child, a teen, a college student, a professional, and jazz legend Herbie Hancock.

— erin griffith, WIRED, "Spotify Shunned an IPO. Now It's Just Another Public Company," 3 Apr. 2018
There are four eligible categories: vocalist, instrumentalist, comedian and specialty act.

— luann gibbs, Cincinnati.com, "Pigeon Forge talent competition coming to Cincinnati," 2 Apr. 2018
The dual instrumentalist-vocalist continued to sing while earning her master’s degree, also in jazz studies, at Michigan State University.

— yoshi kato, San Francisco Chronicle, "Bassist Aneesa Strings off to a fast start," 26 Mar. 2018
Balancing cool forbearance and sauntering grace, the 17-piece ensemble Rivers of Sound represent an exceptional gathering of instrumentalists from musical traditions across Asia and the Americas.

— New York Times, "Pop, Rock and Jazz in NYC This Week," 8 Feb. 2018
In open defiance of the segregationist mores of the 1960s, black singers and white instrumentalists often collaborated at Mr. Hall’s studios, synthesizing gospel, blues and country into something fresh and unique.

— terence mcardle, Washington Post, "Rick Hall, whose Alabama studio produced hits by Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett, dies at 85," 4 Jan. 2018
Few instrumentalists are as closely aligned with a group and a sound as saxophonists Don Dietrich and Jim Sauter.

— peter margasak, Chicago Reader, "Borbetomagus saxophonist Don Dietrich gives a rare performance with Detroit drummer Ben Hall," 22 Mar. 2018
Music director Jamie Johns conducts the orchestra in the pit, comprising a handful of touring musicians joined by 10 local instrumentalists, creating a lush sound that is brightened by some revisions in the orchestrations.

— theodore p. mahne, NOLA.com, "'Phantom of the Opera' revisits Saenger with fresh new production that maintains the magic," 19 Mar. 2018

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