The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra appoints new concert master

The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra has appointed Stephen Sitarski to serve as its new concertmaster. Sitarski comes to Hamilton after serving as the concertmaster of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony for the past fifteen years.

“We are tremendously fortunate to have the opportunity to engage Stephen Sitarski as the Hamilton Philharmonic’s new concertmaster,” says HPO Music Director James Sommerville.  “This is a position that carries with it great artistic responsibilities and demands, and in Stephen we have one of the finest concertmasters in Canada. He has a great deal of experience in every facet of the orchestra world and is an excellent resource as a violinist, conductor and musician,  for the Hamilton Philharmonic in particular and for the Hamilton community in general. I look  forward to sharing the stage with Stephen and the HPO in 2012-2013.”

Sitarski is an award-winning violinist hailing from Oakville, ON. He made his debut at the age of 15 at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and performed his first national broadcast recital at the age of 16. He has performed as a guest concertmaster across Canada and in the United States including a 2005 performance with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich, a performance that he considers a career highlight. Sitarski is excited to serve as concertmaster at HPO.

“I am delighted and honoured to be chosen to take on this important position with the Hamilton Philharmonic,” he says. “There are so many very fine musicians in the HPO, and, of course, Maestro Sommerville is one of Canada’s most distinguished musical artists.”