London Symphony Orchestra's Principal Second Violinist to Retire

David Alberman has been playing with the orchestra for over 20 years and will retire after its tour to Australia in May 2023

David Alberman has been a member of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) since 1998. He has served as Principal Second Violin and Chair of the Orchestra Committee of the Board, and will retire this Spring.

Born in London, Alberman received his licentiate diploma from the Royal Academy of Music at age 16. Performing with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and the LSO, he soon became a concertmaster of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. 

In 1986, his interest in contemporary music saw him join the renowned Arditti Quartet, with whom he made many award-winning recordings and performed world premieres of over 200 works.

Additionally, he enjoys coaching and has been guest concertmaster for the LSO, London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, BBC Scottish Symphony, Scottish Chamber and Bergen Philharmonic Orchestras, Bayrischer Rundfunkorchester, and appeared solo with the Orchestre de Lille, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, among others.

“Where to start talking about David, having worked with him since he was a teenager? This is a musician with everything, a rare treasure chest within an orchestra,” said LSO’s music director, Sir Simon Rattle in the retirement wishes.

“That such a wide-ranging musician should arrive bang in the middle of a great symphony orchestra is not something any of us could take for granted,” he continued. “Dear David, you remain deep in our hearts. Bless you.”

“David has unfailingly been the most professional and prepared member of the LSO for the 22 years I’ve shared a stage with him,” added LSO first violinist, Maxine Kwok. “I hope he can waltz into a well-deserved retirement from the LSO playing his beloved ‘contemptible music’ as he affectionately calls it. He’ll be greatly missed…Goodbye and good luck David — keep that head torch shining brightly!”