An orchestra made up of concertmasters
OrchestrasThe Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra has finalised its summer lineup for a six-concert tour.
Thew orchestra is comprised of concertmasters and principal players from 27 orchestras: Atlanta Symphony, Canadian Opera Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Delaware Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Milwaukee Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Naples Symphony, National Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Tucson Symphony, Utah Symphony and Vancouver Symphony.
Here’s the list:
Concertmasters:
Los Angeles Philharmonic Concertmaster Martin Chalifour (pictured, June 15, 18, 20, 22), Newly-appointed Cleveland Orchestra Concertmaster David Radzynski (June 17)
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Alexander Kerr (June 24)
*Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Principal players noted in bold.
Violin
Nurit Bar-Josef, Principal Second: National Symphony, Concertmaster
Marie Berard: Canadian Opera Orchestra, Concertmaster
Justin Bruns: Atlanta Symphony, Associate Concertmaster
Zachary DePue: Naples Symphony, Concertmaster
Aloysia Friedman: Red Oaks Chamber Orchestra, Concertmaster
Angela Fuller: Dallas Symphony, Principal 2nd
Jeffrey Multer: Florida Orchestra, Concertmaster
Wes Precourt: San Diego Symphony, Associate Concertmaster
Lauren Roth: Tucson Symphony, Concertmaster
Jeanne Skrocki: Pacific Symphony, Assistant Concertmaster
Lisa Sutton: Los Angeles Opera, Assistant Concertmaster
Jeff Thayer: San Diego Symphony, Concertmaster
Nicholas Wright: Vancouver Symphony, Concertmaster
Viola
Brant Bayless, Principal: Utah Symphony, Principal
Michael Casimir, Principal: Toronto Symphony, Principal
Joan DerHovsepian, Principal: Houston Symphony, Acting Principal
Derek Mosloff: Florida Orchestra, Principal
Jay Liu: San Francisco Symphony, Associate Principal
Remi Pellitier: Toronto Symphony, Associate Principal
Cello
Robert deMaine, Principal: Los Angeles Philharmonic, Principal
Karen Freer: Atlanta Symphony, Assistant Principal
Barry Gold: Los Angeles Philharmonic
Austin Huntington: Indianapolis Symphony, Principal
Jason Lippmann: Los Angeles Philharmonic
Una O’Riordan: Detroit Symphony
Brinton Smith: Houston Symphony, Principal
Bass
Nate Farrington, Principal: Los Angeles Opera, Principal
Scott Pingel, Principal: San Francisco Symphony, Principal
Robin Kesselman: Houston Symphony, Principal
David Allen Moore: Los Angeles Philharmonic
Flute
Jeffrey Khaner: Philadelphia Orchestra, Principal
Clay Ellerbroek: Florida Orchestra, Principal
Demarre McGill: Seattle Symphony, Principal
Diana Morgan: San Diego Symphony, Acting Piccolo
Oboe
Frank Rosenwein, Principal: Cleveland Orchestra, Principal
Andrea Overturf, Principal: San Diego Symphony, Principal (Eng. Horn)
Anne Marie Gabriele: Los Angeles Philharmonic
Kevin Pearl: Milwaukee Symphony, Assistant Principal
Clarinet
Boris Allakhverdyan, Principal: Los Angeles Philharmonic, Principal
Christopher Pell, Principal: Cincinnati Symphony, Principal
Frank Renk: San Diego Symphony
Bassoon
Ted Soluri: Dallas Symphony, Principal
Catherine Van Handel: Milwaukee Symphony, Principal
Erik Holtje: Delaware Symphony
Leyla Zamora: San Diego Symphony (Contrabassoon)
French Horn
Abel Pereira, Principal: National Symphony, Principal
Jaclyn Rainey, Principal: Minnesota Orchestra, Acting Associate Principal
Elizabeth Linares: Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gregory Roosa: Los Angeles Philharmonic
Kaylet Torrez: Pacific Symphony, Associate Principal
Trumpet
Ryan Darke: Los Angeles Opera, Principal
Jonah Levy: San Diego Symphony
Frank Glasson: Pacific Symphony
Trombone
David Rejano Contero: Los Angeles Philharmonic, Principal
James Miller: Los Angeles Philharmonic, Associate Principal
John Lofton: Los Angeles Philharmonic (Bass Trombone)
Percussion
Daniel Chavarin, Principal Percussion: San Diego Symphony
Jauvon Gilliam, Principal Timpani: National Symphony, Principal
Wesley Sumpter, Principal: Los Angeles Philharmonic
Mika Nakamura: San Francisco Symphony
Keyboard
Nicholas Halbert (Harmonium)
Joanne Pearce Martin: Los Angeles Philharmonic (piano)
Impressive lineup!
Happy two see our concertmaster included in this, along with two Florida Orchestra principals — all genuine talents. Have a blast, y’all!
A bit reminiscent of Sid Sax’s National Philharmonic Orchestra!
Just curious…who organized this, how is it being funded, etc.? Is this under the auspices of the Mainly Mozart Festival of San Diego?
“Comprises” or “is composed of” is the correct usage. A typo like “Thew” is excusable, although it does grate on the eye.
It’s a gimmick to those who think being principal always equals excellence. Of course, it’s all about who you know. Some of these principals are no better than section players in other fine orchestras
You might want to double check your info. Some of what’s written here regarding positions people hold is quite inaccurate.
Why is Martin Chaulifour in the photo when he’s not on the list?
I think as LA Phil concertmaster he makes 750k a year.
He’s on the list. First name.
This arrangement reminds me of recordings made by Das Orchester der Deutschen Kinderarzte. They made a fine recording of Schubert’s 9th under the direction of Eduard Melkus in the Wiener Musikvereinssaal several years ago, issued on CD.
This is a gimmick.
Classical music needs as many gimmicks to boost audience numbers. What’s weird is lack of money and talent amongst composers, there is NO contemporary equivalent to Mozart, eh???
Indulgent exercise? Leaving aside banal observations like ‘there are no first or second violins, only musicians’, is there a visible uplift to artistic merit from this ‘constellation’ of stars?
Um…not totally sure an orchestra made up of only principal players is the best idea. Not every principal clarinet is a great 2nd, for example.
You have to wonder – does this make a cohesive ensemble…or just the opposite?
Reminds me of London’s premiere session orchestra in the 70’s & 80’s, the National Philharmonic Orchestra …
I remember it well as I used to play a lot with Sid. Chailly did a recording of Rossini overtures with Sid’s band and couldn’t believe it when the first run through was a perfect take.
So who are the all-star conductors?
I cannot see what all the fuss is about! Decades ago the orchestra at the Grand Teton Music Festival was made up of players only from US symphony orchestras having an easy summer holiday with their families. There used to be at least 7 or 8 well established concertmasters in the violin sections as well as a host of principal players. The music director was pretty dreadful but an orchestra with members of that caliber could more or less play without a conductor. Not sure where the players come from nowadays but in Sir Donald Runnicles it has a really excellent MD.
Oooh…let’s play……the Fantasy-football super league game (but with an orchestra). I’m not convinced this approach gets the best integrated sound from classical musicians. (Won’t all these soloist leaders resent being told to follow the guy or gal up at the front……..no leading from the back please)
It’s river oaks not Red oaks chamber orchestra please. After Aloysia Friedman’s name. Thx!
It’s time to drag out this old joke.
There is a wonderful orchestra in heaven. Both violin sections are made up entirely of the greatest concertmasters who ever lived, all the famous and great names, and the same goes for every section of the orchestra. And the greatest composers and conductors in heaven (those that made it that is) regularly lead them in fabulous concerts.
Out of respect for each other, the concertmaster seat itself is always unoccupied.
So one day this heavenly orchestra has gathered and Berlioz is to lead them in a performance of his Requiem. At the very last minute, who should stride in but God holding a violin and He sits in the concertmaster’s chair.
One member of the tutti nudges his stand partner and asks indignantly “who does He think He is? Heifetz?”