Concertmaster Glenn Dicterow Announces Departure from New York Philharmonic
After 34 years of service, violinist Glenn Dicterow announced last Thursday that he will be stepping down from his position as concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic. Dicterow, who is 63, is leaving in order to take up a post as professor of violin and chamber music at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. At USC, Dicterow will hold the Robert Mann Endowed Chair in Violin and Chamber Music, a recently established position. His duties will include teaching a private studio, leading chamber groups, and giving master classes.
As the longest serving concertmaster in the New York Philharmonic’s history, Dicterow has earned a reputation as one of America’s most renown performers and pedagogues. In addition to numerous solo performances in orchestral works such as Rimsky-Korsekov’s “Scheherazade” and Strauss’ “Heldenleben,” he has appeared as a concerto soloist with orchestra numerous times. His first appearance with the orchestra was in 1967, playing the Tchaikovsky concerto at the age of 18. He was later appointed concertmaster in 1980 by Zubin Metha. He has also served on the string faculty at the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School.
Mr. Dicterow said his decision to leave was a difficult one. However, he and his wife, the violist Karen Dreyfus, found the USC offer “a very attractive situation for us at this juncture in our lives.” A native of Southern California, he said that he looks forward to settling into a less frantic work schedule than his current position at the Philharmonic. Dicterow will begin teaching at USC in fall of 2013, but will continue his concertmaster duties through the 2013-2014 season. The New York Philharmonic has not announced any plans for choosing Dicterow’s successor. Whoever it is will have some big shoes to fill, and students at USC will be extremely lucky to inherit wisdom one of the most experienced concertmasters of all time.
No comments yet.