What does concertmaster mean?
A concertmaster is the principal first violinist of an orchestra — the most senior member of the string section and the conductor's chief deputy. Seated at the front-left of the stage, the concertmaster leads the violins, cues entrances within the strings, tunes the orchestra before each performance (traditionally by sounding the A to which the oboe then gives the pitch), and often steps forward for violin solos written into orchestral works. The role carries considerable authority and prestige: in many professional ensembles the concertmaster is the highest-paid musician after the music director and serves as the players' representative to management. The term is standard in North American usage, though British orchestras traditionally refer to this position simply as the 'leader.' Derived from the older German title Konzertmeister, the word reflects a long European tradition in which the first violinist, rather than the baton-wielding conductor, was the ensemble's primary musical authority.
nounThe principal first violinist of an orchestra, who leads the string sections and acts as deputy to the conductor.
- The principal first violinist of an orchestra, responsible for leading the strings, tuning the ensemble, and serving as intermediary between conductor and players.
"The concertmaster tuned the orchestra before the conductor walked onstage."
"As concertmaster, she rose to play the solo passage with the orchestra accompanying her."
"After two decades in the second violins, he was finally promoted to concertmaster of the philharmonic."
Standard plural; used when referring to multiple orchestras' principal violinists collectively.
"The festival brought together concertmasters from three national orchestras."
In many European orchestras, the concertmaster earns more than any other player except the conductor — and in German, the title is literally 'Konzertmeister,' or 'concert master.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of concertmaster
Concertmaster derives from the German Konzertmeister, a compound of Konzert ('concert') and Meister ('master'), a title long used for the senior violinist of an orchestra. English borrowed the term in the nineteenth century as orchestral culture became increasingly internationalized. Its roots ultimately trace to Latin: 'concert' comes from Italian concertare, influenced by Latin concentus ('harmony, singing together'), while 'master' comes from Latin magister. Cognates such as concerto and concert share the same musical lineage.
Related word forms
How concertmaster is actually used
The term is standard in North America; British orchestras traditionally call this person simply the 'leader' of the first violins. The word is neutral in register but belongs firmly to classical music contexts. In German-speaking countries the equivalent 'Konzertmeister' is an older, well-established title from which the English word partly derives.
Easily confused with concertmaster
A maestro is a distinguished master of any musical art — usually the conductor — while the concertmaster is specifically the principal first violinist who leads the orchestra under the conductor's direction.