Pittsburgh finally finds a concertmaster in Vienna

After seven years of auditioning some of the world’s finest leaders, the Pittsburgh Symphony last night hired a new leader.

He is David McCarroll, violinist of the Vienna Piano Trio.

California born, McCarroll studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School in England, then in Boston and Berlin.

He made his concerto debut with the London Mozart Players in 2002 and has since appeared as soloist with many orchestras.

The press release adds:

In addition to music, David maintains an active interest in social concerns including the needs of those impacted by the AIDS pandemic and is currently working on projects of the Starcross Community to help AIDS orphans in Africa. He has played in programs encouraging world peace promoted by the Fellowship of Reconciliation and has given benefit concerts for Doctors Without Borders. With other members of his family, David has worked to get strings to young music students in Cuba where such items are very difficult to obtain. David plays a 1761 violin made by A&J Gagliano.

“It was clear to me from the first opportunity I had to work with David that he possessed all the characteristics we have been looking for in a great concertmaster for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Over our search, which was led by Mary Persin, our Vice President of Artistic Planning, we saw many outstanding candidates, but David made an immediate and profound impression. Together with our Concertmaster Committee, we voted unanimously to offer him the job,“ said Manfred Honeck, Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. “David is an exceptional leader, a brilliant technician, an accomplished chamber musician who plays with great musicality and a generous and character-filled tone. He is respected throughout our industry as a world-class violinist who makes a deep impact wherever he plays. He will bring great leadership through his collegial spirit and superb musicianship. I am excited for our Pittsburgh audience to get to know him both musically and personally and I know that he will enrich the musical life of our city through our work together with the orchestra. I am thrilled that David is joining us and look forward to making music together for many years to come.”