Rhode Island Philharmonic Announces Charles Dimmick as New Concertmaster

March 13, 2015 - East Providence, RI ? Music Director LARRY RACHLEFF and the RHODE ISLAND PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA have named a new concertmaster: CHARLES DIMMICK won the position in January. A member of the Philharmonic since the 2002-2003 season, Mr. Dimmick became acting concertmaster in 2013 upon the leave of Charles Sherba.

LARRY RACHLEFF, music director, said: "To fill the shoes of our beloved Chuck Sherba, was going to be no small task. Charles Dimmick had been acting as concertmaster during Chuck's leave and handled the duties with artistic and personal sophistication. In this profession, however, winning an audition is how people get a job. Mr. Dimmick then won our national audition and we are honored and thrilled to have his musical sensitivity and warm hearted being in this position."

Providence Journal arts writer, CHANNING GRAY wrote of the RI Philharmonic's Jan 14 concert, "'Heldenleben' was a knockout, with passages so ravishing they left you weak in the knees . . . Rachleff was on top of the score from the outset, martialing off-stage players and military bands going into battle, along with some radiant string work. Concertmaster Charles Dimmick deserves a big hand for his impressive solo contributions . . . To hear 'Heldenleben' live is, of course, a wonderful thing. But to hear it done this well is a thrill."

Praised by the Boston Globe for his "cool clarity of expression," violinist Charles Dimmick enjoys a varied and distinguished career as concertmaster, soloist, and chamber musician. In addition to his new role with the Rhode Island Philharmonic, he serves as concertmaster for the Portland (ME) Symphony Orchestra, the Grammy-nominated Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP), and Odyssey Opera. As soloist, Charles has garnered praise, packed houses, and received standing ovations for what the Portland Press Herald has called his "luxurious and stellar performances" and his "technical and artistic virtuosity." Recent solo engagements have included performances with the Portland Symphony, Winston-Salem Symphony, and BMOP. As a chamber musician, Charles can be heard collaborating with the Sebago Long Lake Chamber Festival, Radius Ensemble, and Monadnock Music, where he is a founding member of the Monadnock String Quartet. He and his wife, Rhode Island Philharmonic flutist Rachel Braude, live in Boston's Jamaica Plain with their daughter Chloe.

The concertmaster, the orchestra's principal first violinist, plays the solo violin passages of the symphonic repertoire. They are the essential conduit between music director and orchestra members, on stage and off and play the primary role in establishing ensemble among the stage full of musicians. The concertmaster decides technical points of violin parts and guides the violinists, the orchestra's largest section, as they perform. Seated at the conductor's left, a concertmaster can be seen by everyone in the orchestra; if a conductor's gestures are ever unclear, the concertmaster can interpret and lead. When a guest conductor is on the podium, the concertmaster provides continuity.

Much of the job is done before the orchestra rehearses. Together, the music director and concertmaster agree on a consistent method of bowing, phrasing and overall sound, which in turn is conveyed to the strings; the violin, viola, cello and bass sections comprise the majority of the orchestra. Before rehearsal, the concertmaster studies the musical scores and marks bowings, articulation and phrasing, which are copied for the other players. The concertmaster becomes familiar with every musician's part, to anticipate wind, brass and percussion entrances or solos. The position requires not only exceptional musical talent and knowledge, but also the subtlety and skill of and diplomat and the calm of an air traffic controller.

Orchestral tradition has given the concertmaster an elegant, elaborate routine. They enter - to applause - after the orchestra is on stage, signal the players to tune to the principal oboist's A, and takes their seat to indicate that the orchestra is ready for the conductor's entrance. If a guest violin soloist should break a string, the concertmaster immediately passes their own instrument. At the beginning and end of the concert, the conductor and concertmaster shake hands.

The Philharmonic's Season 70 offers symphonies by Beethoven, Prokofiev and Sibelius; concerti by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Saint-Sa?ns and Tchaikovsky; and popular favorites Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, Ravel's Boléro and Orff's Carmina Burana. The season's final concert features the world premiere of a commissioned work by the New England native composer Pierre Jalbert in honor of the Orchestra's 70th Anniversary. The season features eight Classical concerts on Saturday nights at The VETS. Four are preceded by Amica Rush Hour concerts on Friday, and four have Friday Open Rehearsals. The Amica Rush Hour Series offers an early start time - 6:30 - on remaining Fridays April 10 and May 8. These shorter, informal, accessible concerts feature full performances of select repertoire from the Saturday Classical concerts. Open Rehearsals (the last of the season is held March 20 at 5:30) offer insight into the collaboration between the conductor, guest artists and orchestra musicians as they prepare for the upcoming classical concert. Tickets are on sale at the Philharmonic box office at 401.248.7000, or tickets.riphil.org.

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