Orchestra concert performance.
In a significant announcement, the Spartanburg Philharmonic has chosen Joanna Mulfinger, a Greenville native, as the Concertmaster for the 2024-2025 season. Joanna comes with a strong musical background and significant experience in both classical and contemporary genres.
Born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, Joanna’s voyage through the musical world has been remarkable. A graduate of Bob Jones University, she went on to earn a Masters Degree from the esteemed Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, guided by the well-known Russian pedagogue Victor Danchenko. Her excellence was recognized at Peabody where she received the J.C. van Hulsteyn Prize for Outstanding Musical and Academic Contributions. In addition to her US-based studies, Joanna further refined her craft across borders at the Juilliard School in New York and the Hanns Eisler Hochschule Fur Musik in Berlin, Germany. She also explored various music festivals across France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Canada.
Joanna’s musical versatility spans various genres. An explorer at heart, she learned and performed a new piece for the erhu, a traditional Chinese stringed instrument, back in 2016. She has led a Baroque String Ensemble and collaborated with numerous Baroque groups, including The Sebastians in New York and New Jersey. Currently, she is a member of Early Music New York. Outside the classical world, Joanna has performed at the Peace Center in Greenville, accompanying national tours of Broadway shows and popular touring artists like Smokey Robinson, Celtic Woman, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Josh Groban.
Having served as Assistant Concertmaster of the Spartanburg Philharmonic for a decade, and then as Interim Concertmaster from 2017 to 2019, Joanna has a rich history with the orchestra. She returned in 2022 as Interim Concertmaster, reflecting her strong connection with the ensemble.
Speaking about the appointment, Music Director John Young Shik Concklin exulted, “No one is more deserving for the concertmaster position than Joanna. I’m thrilled that she will be joining us. I have shared the stage with her for over a decade. Her poise, collaborative style, and wide experience will be a treasured addition to our orchestra. I’m very much looking forward to collaborating together.”
A critical member of an orchestra, the concertmaster, also known as the leader of the first violin section, has a multifaceted role. They interpret the conductor’s vision, lead the violin section’s performance, occasionally perform violin solos, tune the orchestra, collaborate during rehearsals, communicate between the conductor and orchestra members, and represent the orchestra at public engagements. Clearly, the concertmaster forms a cohesive bond within the orchestra, ensuring musical excellence.
Widely recognized for creativity, inspiration, and entertainment, the Spartanburg Philharmonic has a rich history dating back to the 1895 May Festival. As a strong proponent of diversity and inclusion, the Philharmonic is committed to creating memorable performances and experiences through well-known and rarely played works by composers of all backgrounds for everyone in the Spartanburg community and beyond.
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