The Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra will start its 42nd season on Nov. 8 with a new concertmaster. Dr. Andrea Dawson, professor of music in violin and viola at Middle Tennessee State University, takes over after the retirement of longtime concertmaster Stefan Petrescu.
“I am so happy to join the TPO,” said Dr. Dawson, who has an impressive résumé in classical music. Dr. Dawson has performed as a violinist, violist and Baroque violinist throughout the United States, and internationally in China, Brazil, France, Curaçao and Mexico. She was born in Michigan but grew up in Massachusetts and started playing Suzuki violin at the age of 5. She continued to play in youth orchestras, chamber ensembles, school orchestras and summer music festivals throughout her youth.
“I played with the TPO previously until my teaching schedule prevented me from being able to continue. It is really fortunate to have a philharmonic orchestra in Murfreesboro,” Dawson said. “Anything we can do to increase access to the arts is a great thing!”
She previously served as associate concertmaster of the Valley Symphony Orchestra in South Texas, and has performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Canton Symphony Orchestra, Bucknell University Orchestra, the MTSU Symphony Orchestra, Music City Baroque and the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra.
At MTSU, she has presented over 60 faculty solo and chamber music recitals since 2007. As a member of the Stones River Chamber Players, she has performed in Hangzhou, China; Steinway Hall in New York City; and at WPLN Nashville for Live in Studio C.
Dawson’s interest in modern music led her to the composition and publication of an etude book, 24 Etudes for the Modern Violinist, Book I: Intermediate.
In March of 2023, Dawson founded the nonprofit Dow Street Community Music School in Murfreesboro, in memory of her parents.
Asked about her hopes for the future of TPO, Dawson said, “I would love to see more young people at our concerts. Appreciating music starts at the beginning, through learning to sing or play an instrument, to performing, to attending concerts. Music is part of all of our lives,” she said, “and it can help us to thrive, individually and as a society.”
The Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra opens its season with its Veterans Concert on Nov. 8 at The View at Fountains of Gateway. For more information on the TPO, visit tnphil.org.
