Top US concertmaster quits

The respected and well-liked Frank Almond has decided to step down at the Milwaukee Symphony after 25 years. He explains why here:

It’s a constellation of things. I have two teenage girls on my own. [Frank’s wife, Kate, passed away from breast cancer in 2017.] For four to five years I had ideas I couldn’t do for either professional reasons or Kate’s illness. Last season it became untenable. Ken-David Masur and I get along great, but I think he should have the opportunity to find someone to take the strings section in a different direction.

I want to build the Frankly Music chamber music series and continue to grow my teaching at Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra. I hope to change the chamber music landscape, and get the arts more out into underserved communities, like schools and prisons, on a regular basis.

We wish Frank every success and happiness. He will contnue to play an advisory role with the Milwaukee Symphony.

In January 2014 Frank was attacked by robbers who stole his Lipinski Stradivarius as he left a recital at Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee. The criminals were caught and jailed, the violin recovered safe and sound.