Vineta Sareika, the former First Concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic, has been appointed Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, beginning with the 2026–27 season.
The Latvian violinist will assume one of the orchestra’s most influential artistic positions, leading the string section, performing major orchestral violin solos and serving as a key musical link between the conductor and the musicians.
The appointment follows Sareika’s recent appearance as guest concertmaster in the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s acclaimed performances of Wagner’s Die Walküre. In announcing the appointment, the orchestra said it was looking forward to welcoming her back this autumn as an official member of the LA Phil family.
Sareika is widely recognised as one of the most distinguished violinists of her generation. Before joining the Berlin Philharmonic, she served as concertmaster of the Royal Flemish Philharmonic and gained international prominence as first violinist of the Artemis Quartet. She has also maintained an active career as a soloist, chamber musician and educator.
Her arrival in Los Angeles marks a new chapter after a brief but closely watched tenure in Berlin. In 2023, Sareika made history as the first woman appointed First Concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic in the orchestra’s more than 140-year history. Yet less than two years later, she announced that she would leave the ensemble, stating that while the experience had been enriching, remaining in the orchestra was “not the path” she wished to pursue in the future. The decision surprised many observers and prompted speculation, although Sareika never publicly elaborated on her reasons. Her final concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic took place in February 2025.
The appointment also comes at a moment of significant transition for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. After more than a decade under the leadership of Gustavo Dudamel, the orchestra is preparing for the arrival of Daniel Harding as its next Music Director in the 2027–28 season. Recent months have also brought a series of artistic appointments, including Anna Handler as Conductor-in-Residence and the return of Esa-Pekka Salonen as Creative Director, signalling a broader reshaping of the institution’s artistic leadership.
For the Los Angeles Philharmonic, securing a musician with Sareika’s international stature represents a major addition as the orchestra enters its post-Dudamel era. For Sareika, it marks a high-profile return to orchestral leadership after one of the most discussed departures in recent classical music memory.
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