Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The first violinist in a symphony orchestra.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun music, US The first violin in a symphony orchestra; normally plays violin solos

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

A calque of German Konzertmeister.

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Examples

  • The concertmaster is the de facto leader of the orchestra, responsible for all communications between the ensemble and the music director.

    NY Daily News PAUL PELKONEN 2011

  • The concertmaster is the de facto leader of the orchestra, responsible for all communications between the ensemble and the music director.

    NY Daily News PAUL PELKONEN 2011

  • Prices of scores were prohibitive -- and though in such works as the Brahms symphonies, for instance, the 'concertmaster's' part should be studied from score, in its relation to the rest of the _partitura_ -- often, merely to obtain a first violin part, I had to acquire the entire set of strings.

    Violin Mastery Talks with Master Violinists and Teachers Frederick Herman Martens 1903

  • To begin with, violinist Darren Lowe and cellist Blair Lofgren, now concertmaster and principal cello of the Orchestre symphonique de Quebec, respectively, are former members of the RSO (Lowe was RSO concertmaster during 1975-1976, while Lofgren played with the RSO during the 1990s.)

    My preview of Trio Frontenac ewillett 2009

  • But via connections in the classical music world, Mr. Mathew said his group was able to secure a date at Carnegie Hall and the participation of musicians like Glenn Dicterow, the concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic.

    Musical Movement for Pakistani Community Kimberly Chou 2011

  • In addition to teaching, he played in a string quartet and was concertmaster of the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra.

    John D. Kendall, who brought Suzuki violin training method to U.S., dies at 93 Matt Schudel 2011

  • "She has signed my checks now for close to 20 years," says Naples Philharmonic concertmaster Glenn Basham.

    Naples Philharmonic Enters a New Era Barbara Jepson 2011

  • And concertmaster Alexander Barantschik, whom the conductor appointed, has the use of the "David" Guarneri del Gesù violin played by the legendary Jascha Heifetz.

    A Centenarian Fit as a Fiddle Barbara Jepson 2011

  • Squint and you can see a female violinist sitting next to the concertmaster, in the new outfit the orchestra introduced for its -- very few -- woman players.

    And so it begins Anne Midgette 2011

  • BARNETT: But Cleveland Orchestra associate concertmaster Amy Lee is still a little uncomfortable with the idea of playing for a noisy crowd that isnt always paying attention.

    Beethoven And Beer At The Happy Dog 2010

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