GLENN DICTEROW
A Most Masterful Musician: 34 Years as the
New York Philharmonic’s Concertmaster
W
hen Glenn Dicterow
became Concertmaster of
the New York Philharmonic
in 1980, he obviously had the full
support of Zubin Mehta, the Music
Director who appointed him —
but success was not by any means
guaranteed. The last Concertmaster
with a lengthy tenure was the beloved
John Corigliano, who had retired after
serving in that position for 23 years.
Following Corigliano’s retirement, in
1966, 14 years went by in which six
different Concertmasters or Acting
Concertmasters passed through the
Philharmonic. Another mark against
Glenn was his age: at 31 years old, he
was the youngest musician ever to be
appointed to that leadership post.
Now, 34 years later, the New York
Philharmonic bids farewell to
Glenn Dicterow, the longest-serving
Concertmaster in the Orchestra’s
172-year history.
Glenn was born to parents of RussianJewish background and raised in
Los Angeles. His father, Harold, was
Associate Concertmaster of the Los
Angeles Philharmonic for 52 years. Both
Glenn and his older brother, Maurice,
began violin studies at an early age.
In addition to his father, Glenn’s early
teachers included Henryk Szeryng and
Jascha Heifetz. In 1967 he enrolled at
The Juilliard School, where he studied
with Ivan Galamian, and made his New
York Philharmonic debut, performing
Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto at the
invitation of Andre Kostelanetz. He then
returned to California when Zubin
Mehta, then Music Director of the Los
Angeles Philharmonic, hired him where
he soon became that orchestra’s Assistant
Concertmaster.
Music Director Alan Gilbert said:
Glenn has provided a crucial underpinning
and perspective during the tenures of four
music directors and for more than 200 guest
conductors, and he has presided over more than
6,000 concerts, and been a soloist in 219.
But statistics don’t capture the totality.
Glenn is a legend. One of the world’s
greatest violinists, he brings his incredible
musical point of view and inspires the highest
standard through the warmth of his sound
and his consummate professionalism. I’ve seen
him work with conductors of great renown
and complete beginners, and have always been
impressed by his consistent commitment
and dedication.
In my first weeks as Music Director,
I looked over to Glenn and knew he
absolutely understood my intention.What
happened next is an illustration of what a
quintessential concertmaster can do: Glenn,
somehow, through the force of his will and
his body language, galvanized the orchestra,
kicking things into a turbo charge.This
dramatic influence on the entire ensemble is
at the heart of what Glenn has given the
Philharmonic for 34 years.