Holly MulcahyWhat does a concertmaster do?A concertmaster is the leader of the first violin section of an orchestra. She sits in the front seat, to the left of the conductor. During a performance, she comes on stage before the conductor and leads the orchestra in tuning their instruments.Source: Ask.com
Holly Mulcahy has been appointed the new concertmaster by the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, according to a news release.
Mulcahy replaces Don Zimmer, who retired at the end of the 2011-12 season after 33 years with the CSO. She will join the CSO for the first of seven Masterworks concerts in September. She also will perform in some of the Pops and Chamber programs throughout the year.
"She is a dynamic violinist, the author of the popular classical music blog NeoClassical, a strong advocate of arts and music, and a fantastic leader," CSO Music Director Kayoko Dan said in the release.
"She will be a great asset to the orchestra and the community."
Mulcahy performed on last season's Dvorak No. 6 program in November. She was chosen from seven candidates who each played one Masterworks concert in the 2012-13 season.
She has performed with symphonies around the world, including the Washington National Opera Japan tour under Placido Domingo. She studied at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University.
Mulcahy said in the release that a "rich combination of great ingredients" makes the CSO "instantly appealing."