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concertmaster

American  
[kon-sert-mas-ter, -mah-ster] / ˈkɒn sərtˌmæs tər, -ˌmɑ stər /

noun

  1. the leader of the first violins in a symphony orchestra, who is usually also the assistant to the conductor.


concertmaster British  
/ ˈkɒnsətˌmɑːstə /

noun

  1. a US and Canadian word for leader

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of concertmaster

1875–80; translation of German Konzertmeister. See concert (noun), master

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

A Chicago-based violinist, Mulcahy serves as the concertmaster of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, and has to regularly make the roughly 700-mile flight between Illinois and Kansas as a result.

From MarketWatch Nov. 8, 2025

His father, Luis, served as the concertmaster of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Buenos Aires at the Teatro Colón.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 26, 2025

The Berlin Philharmonic, one of the world’s great ensembles, hired its first female concertmaster last year.

From New York Times Jun. 6, 2024

One of the highlights of their preparation: practicing their solos with Seattle Symphony assistant conductor Sunny Xia and concertmaster Noah Geller.

From Seattle Times Oct. 19, 2023

At nineteen—not much older than me—he's already the concertmaster of the Hannover Orchestra.

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper

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