Concertmaster: How to Become a Concertmaster

A concertmaster, or first chair, is a leadership role within an orchestra, chamber orchestra, or other large instrumental or musical ensembles. The concertmaster is one of the most influential leaders in the ensemble, along with the conductor and music director. The leader of the first violin section, or first chair violinist, is typically the concertmaster, while in a concert band, the concertmaster is the first clarinet, oboe, or flute, and in brass bands, it’s the principal solo cornet, trombone, or trumpet player.

The concertmaster sits to the left of the conductor’s podium in the first chair of the string section, which is also known as the first stand or first desk. They shake the conductor or guest conductor’s hand before a performance as a gesture of appreciation and respect for their collaboration. The concertmaster’s primary role is to play the violin solos in classical music pieces and help guide the orchestra. They also lead the orchestra in tuning before the concert and communicate the bowings, or how the string section should play the notes.

The role of the concertmaster encompasses three main priorities.

1. 1. Leadership: The concertmaster is among the most important members of the orchestra. They serve as a conduit between the conductor and the orchestra, guiding the group through tuning and the performance. They also notate bowings for the violin performances on the orchestra scores.
2. 2. Management: In addition to their musical duties, the concertmaster assists with managing the orchestra and its performers. They help the music director hire musicians, prepare the music for the orchestra members, and advise on artistic and business matters. The concertmaster also communicates directly with the conductor, section leaders, and individual performers to resolve issues and answer questions.
3. 3. Performing: The concertmaster plays all solo violin passages unless a soloist is a guest performer with the orchestra. On occasion, concertmasters also conduct the orchestra if the primary conductor or a guest conductor is unavailable.

The first violinist has held the role of concertmaster since about the Baroque period.

• The composer was the concertmaster. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, composers served as conductors and concertmasters for orchestras, then roughly the size of modern chamber music ensembles or string quartets. Composers like Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach—the son of Johann Sebastian Bach—conducted while also coaching the orchestra and playing the harpsichord.
  
• The violin made it easier to play and conduct. As many who split the three-pronged role of player, composer, and conductor found, conducting was difficult while also playing the harpsichord. Over time, the composers who became skilled concertmasters were violinists because the instrument allowed players to conduct by keeping time with the movement of their bows without a break in playing.
• Larger orchestras required a division of roles. At the end of the seventeenth century, orchestras grew in size, requiring many player-conductors to divide their role with another orchestra member. The violinist became the concertmaster, performing the solo passages and determining how to play the violin parts, while the conductor interpreted the symphonies and concertos and led the rest of the orchestra in performing them.

Follow these tips to pursue a career as a concertmaster:

1. 1. Get an education: A concertmaster typically earns a bachelor of music degree from a four-year music performance program before joining a professional orchestra as a string player.
2. 2. Gain performing experience: Join a symphony orchestra to develop your skills as a performer. Explore opportunities to perform as a soloist or participate in international violin competitions to refine your skills.
3. 3. Work your way up: Concertmasters work their way up to the role of concertmaster; you may begin as an assistant principal or principal second violin. In large orchestras, such as the New York Philharmonic Orchestra or Los Angeles Philharmonic, several assistant concertmasters support the first chair violin and take over in their absence. Those who hold this role occasionally become conductors or music directors, or you can pursue similar positions at larger or more well-known orchestras.

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