Minnesota Orchestra names Erin Keefe as Concertmaster

Posted at 10:00 AM on September 22, 2011 by Euan Kerr (0 Comments)
Filed under: Music, People

The Minnesota Orchestra today announced violinist Erin Keefe will be its new concertmaster.

Keefe succeeds succeeds Jorja Fleezanis, who departed the Orchestra in 2009. Keefe is an accomplished chamber musician, who most recently was a member of the the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Featured on Live from Lincoln Center three times with the Society, she has performed regularly with both the Brooklyn Chamber Music Society and Boston Chamber Music Society.

During the search for a new concertmaster Keefe played with the Minnesota Orchestra a number of times.

In a release this morning Minnesota Orchestra Music Director Osmo Vanska declared "I look forward to welcoming Erin to the Orchestra and to making extraordinary music."

For her part, Keefe says she is honored to accept her new position.

"I am thrilled to become a member of such a world-class ensemble, and I am looking forward to an exciting season working with the musicians and Maestro Vänskä," she said.

She said she's looking forward to the challenges of a new orchestra and a new repertoire.

"I still have to lead and follow, which is what I do in chamber music. It's just sort of on a larger scale," she said. "But I am excited to tackle this whole new massive repertoire."

Keefe will appear as concertmaster for the first time at the Orchestra's season-opening concerts September 29 to October 1.

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