Tuesday (12/15) on the Atlanta arts blog ArtsCriticATL.com, Catherine Fox writes, “Searching for a concertmaster since June 2008, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra has been publicly auditioning candidates all year and settled on three top candidates this past fall, each of whom performed in several concerts with the orchestra at the head of the violin section. The ASO and music director Robert Spano have picked 25-year-old Norwegian-born violinist David Coucheron. He replaces violinist Cecylia Arzewski, who served as the orchestra’s most prominent member for 18 years. Coucheron boasts an impeccable pedigree, with degrees from Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute, New York’s Juilliard School and London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He studied with master violinist Aaron Rosand and has performed solos with esteemed ensembles—including the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Oslo Philharmonic—and has worked with many of the top conductors in the business. … ‘Mr. Coucheron impressed us all through this long and detailed search process,’ said Spano in a statement. ‘It is very exciting to have such a vital and dynamic talent join us. We eagerly anticipate welcoming him to Atlanta.’ … Coucheron plays a 1725 Stradivari violin and takes up the ASO post in Sept. 2010.”
Posted December 15, 2009
