About Us: Meet the Musicians

Dovid Friedlander, violin, has been a member of the North Carolina Symphony as Associate Concertmaster since 2005. He previously held a position in the Columbus Symphony and was the Assistant Concertmaster of the San Antonio Symphony. He has also played with the Boston Symphony at the Tanglewood Music Festival, and regularly with the PittsburghSymphony in concerts and on tour, with such conductors as Seiji Ozawa, Mariss Jansons, and Claudio Abbado.

In addition to playing with the North Carolina Symphony, Dovid is an active chamber musician in the Raleigh area. He also maintains a full teaching studio and was on the faculty of the Triada Music Festival in 2006 and 2007. Dovid has enjoyed soloing with the North Carolina Symphony each season, including three performances of Hindemith's Kammermusik No. 4 in January of 2009. He also played solo with the Brussels Chamber Orchestra during the Crosscurrents Chamber Festival in 2009 and 2010.

Mr. Friedlander studied with Cleveland Orchestra Concertmaster, William Preucil, at theEastman School of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music. While at the ClevelandInstitute, he won the Jerome Gross award and his quartet was the recipient of the esteemed Darius Milaud award.

Dovid plays on a David Burgess violin, made in 1987.

How did you choose your instrument?
My mother chose it for me when I was three.

What are three of your favorite movies?
Amadeus, Airplane, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

What’s your favorite spot for a post-concert drink or bite to eat?
Poole's! You'll find me there some nights with a beer and some mac and cheese. Baby Violet has made a post-concert hang-out a little more challenging lately, though!

What do you think is the greatest misconception about classical music?
People think that it's not accessible to them. Most people that come to hear a concert for the first time find that they had a really great time.

What is your idea of a perfect day?
A beautiful spring day going for a walk with my wife Tracy, baby daughter Violet, and dog Bernie, and later a nice dinner out while baby stays home with grandma!

What famous figure, living or dead, would you most like to invite to dinner, and why?
Dead: Jascha Heifetz, because he was one of the greatest violinists who ever lived, a rock star in his day. Alive: Barack Obama.

What is your fantasy career?
I'm living my fantasy career.

What would you consider to be the perfect classical concert program?
Debussy, Prelude to an Afternoon of a Fawn, Stravinsky Violin Concerto, and La Mer or Prokofiev Symphony No. 5

Other than performances with the North Carolina Symphony, where can we catch you performing around town?
Peace College chamber music series, Concertmaster in the summer with the NC Symphony at Regency Park.

What is your favorite North Carolina Symphony moment?
Playing Hindemith Kammermusik No. 4 with Grant conducting. It was one of the most challenging pieces I have ever played.

What is your favorite stress reliever?
Going for a long bike ride.

What is always in your kitchen?
Green and Black's organic dark chocolate with cherries

What is the best thing about being a musician? The worst?
BEST: being able to express yourself through music
WORST: trying to live up to your own standards

What work have you always wanted the opportunity to perform?
Brahms Violin Concerto