What does the "Concertmaster" do in an orchestra?

The "Concertmaster" (American English) or "leader "(British English) is the most important violinist in an orchestra. The word concertmaster comes from the German “Konzertmeister.” The concertmaster sits to the conductor's left, closest to the audience, in what is called the "first chair," "first stand" or outside of the USA, "first desk."

He has to decide how the violins will play the music and write in the bowing. He will decide where each member of the violins section should sit. If part of the music is marked "solo" then he will play it as a solo while the other violins stop playing.

The duties and tasks of the concertmaster are many. Primarily, they act as the conduit between conductor and orchestra and is accountable to both parties.

One of the principal tasks of the concertmaster is to provide bowings for the 1st violins prior to rehearsal. The concertmaster assumes responsibility for the tone and execution of the entire section of 1st violins, in addition to performing any solo passages that occur in any given piece.

Another primary duty of the concertmaster is to translate instructions from the conductor into specific technical language for the strings. In the USA it is usual for the concertmaster to be on the platform before the concert and to tell the orchestra to tune their instruments, playing on his A string to give them the correct pitch. In European orchestras, it is usually the oboe that gives an A for tuning.