A distinctive legacy: The musical, historical, and practical evolution of the American concertmaster from the 1950s to the present. A comparative examination of the concertmaster position and concertmaster lineage in modern-day America

Abstract

This document examines the historical role and lineage of the current American concertmaster. Foundational discussions include the establishment of the concertmaster, the professional relationship with the conductor, and the evolution of the role into its present-day format. Interviews with contemporary concertmasters of major American orchestras form the basis for a detailed observation of the modern orchestral audition process, the basic responsibilities of a concertmaster, the leadership, pressures, and community expectations involved with the position, and the future of concertmaster education in America. Interviewed concertmasters are: Bill Preucil of the Cleveland Orchestra, Emmanuelle Boisvert of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Seattle Symphony, Andres Cardenes of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Juliana Athayde of the Rochester Philharmonic, and Joseph Silverstein, the former concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.