First chair violin

1. What does it mean to be first chair violin?
2. What is the first chair second violin called?
3. What do first chair violinists make?
4. Where does the first chair violin sit?

What does it mean to be first chair violin?

Also Called. First Chair, First Violinist, Concertmistress. The first chair violinist of an orchestra—known as the concertmaster—is a vital musical leader with widely ranging responsibilities, from tuning the orchestra to working closely with the conductor.

What is the first chair second violin called?

The first chair second violin is the “principal second” and gets paid less than the concertmaster but more than a section player. Often there is an “assistant principal second” that might get paid a bit more than section players. For the most part, section players are all paid the same.

What do first chair violinists make?

The average violinist salary is $65,962 per year, or $31.71 per hour, in the United States. In terms of salary range, an entry level violinist salary is roughly $27,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $160,000.

Where does the first chair violin sit?

The concertmaster sits to the conductor's left, closest to the audience, in what is called the "first chair," "first [music] stand" or outside of the US "first desk." The concertmaster makes decisions regarding bowing and other technical details of violin playing for the violins, and sometimes all of the string players ...