In the spring of 2009, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra announced that Concertmaster Martin Riseley would be taking a leave of absence for the 2009/10 performance season. The New Zealand native returned to his homeland to take advantage of a rare teaching opportunity at the New Zealand School of Music, and three of the ESO's fine corps of first violinists - Eric Buchmann, Richard Caldwell, and Broderyck Olson - acted as Interim Concertmasters. Following a successful first year in his post as Head of Strings at the School, Dr. Martin Riseley will continue in this role in the future, relinquishing his role of Concertmaster – a position he has held with the ESO since November 30th, 1994.

"Martin has distinguished himself as a fantastic violinist and a tremendous leader for our orchestra, and I am very sad to see my good friend and colleague resign his post as Concertmaster of the ESO,” says ESO Music Director Bill Eddins.

 

Just 25 when he was appointed Concertmaster, having succeeded the longstanding tenure of Concertmaster James Keene, Martin’s youthful energy and exuberance carried over not only in his many standout solo performances, but also in his engaging and relaxed approach with his fellow musicians and the audience. His style, collegial but still authoritative, helped shape the string sound of the ESO for a decade and a half.

 

In addition to his work from the first chair, Martin Riseley distinguished himself as a soloist on numerous occasions. Bill Eddins only recently became a fan of Tchaikovsky’s mammoth Violin Concerto – thanks to two transcendent performances by Martin in 2007. He premiered a new concerto written for him by then ESO Composer in Residence Allan Gilliland, and electrified ESO audiences with his passionate performances of many of the great violin masterpieces. His easygoing manner and his wry sense of humour helped make him a favourite in the Edmonton music community.

 

- Dr. Martin Riseley

 

The ESO is pleased to announce that Eric Buchmann will be Interim Concertmaster for the 2010/11 season while the ESO begins its formal search.  Eric Buchmann joined the first violin section of the ESO in 2006 and was appointed Assistant Concertmaster in 2009. He studied violin at the Conservatoire de Montréal, and at the Université de Montréal where he earned a Bachelor of Music and a DESS degree. In 2001, he moved to Los Angeles to continue his studies at the University of Southern California. Two years later he joined the New World Symphony in Miami Beach where he played under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas and many other conductors from around the world. His violin teachers include Sonia Jelinkova, Vladimir Landsman, Jean-François Rivest, William Preucil, and Martin Chalifour. Eric occasionally appears as a soloist with the ESO and is also a member of the Alberta Baroque Ensemble under the direction of Paul Schieman.

 

The ESO sends best wishes to Dr. Riseley and his family for continued success and fulfillment in New Zealand, and in the words of Bill Eddins, “look forward to working with him again as soon as the music business allows." 

 

Auditions for the position of ESO Concertmaster will be held over the coming year, with the anticipation of an appointment for the 2011/12 season.

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