Jonathan Crow
Orchestral conductors tend to look askance at any musician who plays before his or her cue. That didn't stop Toronto Symphony Orchestra music director Peter Oundjian from jumping in early with an impromptu announcement during a weekend concert that Montreal violinist Jonathan Crow will be the TSO's next concertmaster.
Following a performance of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5, Oundjian embraced the much taller Crow, who was playing as guest concertmaster, and told the audience the violinist would be taking the job full-time.
"This comment was made in the excitement and enthusiasm of the moment," said a TSO spokesperson after the event. "There are naturally many details that need to be sorted out before a formal announcement can be appropriately made."
Crow, who was born in Prince George, B. C. in 1977, was the highly respected concertmaster of l'Orchestre symphonique de Montreal from 2002 to 2006. At the time, he was the youngest person ever to hold such a position with a major North American orchestra.
He is currently an assistant professor of violin at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University. He could not be reached for comment about his new job in Toronto.
The TSO has been without a permanent concertmaster for three years.