Christchurch Symphony Orchestra Appoints New Concertmaster

Violinist Justine Cormack will step into the role

New Zealand's Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO) has announced that violinist Justine Cormack will serve as its next Concertmaster. She will make her subscription concert debut in the post on March 1, 2025.

Born and raised in Christchurch, Cormack gave some of her earliest professional performances with the CSO, having studied at the University of Canterbury. She then received her doctorate from Stony Brook University, before being appointed as Concertmaster of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

She was also a founding member of NZTrio, playing with the ensemble from 2002 to mid-2017. In this capacity, Cormack performed throughout New Zealand, Australia, Asia, South America, the USA, Europe, and Scandinavia. The ensemble commissioned almost 40 works from New Zealand composers, for which they were honored with the Lilburn Trust Citation in 2017 for outstanding services to New Zealand Music.

Alongside violinist Benjamin Baker, she is the founder of the At the World's End Festival (AWE), which brings together top-level chamber players in the Queenstown Lakes region of New Zealand each year.

"I am absolutely thrilled to be returning to CSO as Concertmaster," Cormack said. "The orchestra plays such an important role within the city of Ōtautahi Christchurch — a city so very close to my heart, and I am so proud of this fine orchestra and all it has achieved."

"I feel honored to be joining this vibrant group of musicians, and I look forward to intimately supporting them in their artistic growth and helping the orchestra to further flourish and to continue to inspire its community."