LA Opera Orchestra appoints new concertmaster

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The LA Opera has announced that violinist Alyssa Park has been appointed as the orchestra’s Stuart Canin concertmaster. Her first performances in the role will be in Verdi’s Falstaff, opening 18 April.

Park succeeds Roberto Cani, who served as concertmaster of the LA Opera Orchestra from 2011 for 14 seasons, before his death in April 2025. The concertmaster chair is named after Stuart Canin, who served as concertmaster of the orchestra from 2001 to 2010.

Music director James Conlon described the search for Cani’s successor as ‘highly competitive’.

’I am more than delighted that in Alyssa Park we are confident we have found an extraordinary violinist and musician for the future,’ said Conlon, who leaves his role at LA Opera after 20 years.

’We all welcome her to the company, and I wish her and all of our colleagues and friends in the LA Opera Orchestra, as well as my own successor Domingo Hindoyan, a fruitful and long working relationship well into the future,’ said Conlon.

’After many years on the concert stage, I am deeply honoured to begin this new chapter as concertmaster of LA Opera,’ said Park.

’Opera’s power lies in its ability to transform music and drama into living storytelling, revealing the depth and complexity of the human experience and strengthening the cultural fabric of the community.

’I look forward to collaborating closely with maestro James Conlon and maestro Domingo Hindoyan, and with my colleagues in the orchestra, to shape performances that are vibrant, collaborative, and rooted in musical integrity.

’To serve Los Angeles – a city that has been central to my artistic life – in this role is an extraordinary privilege.’

Park became the youngest prizewinner of the Tchaikovsky International Competition at the age of 16. She has performed at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, Ravinia Festival, the Kennedy Center, Oregon Bach Festival and Rockefeller University in New York City.

She has performed as soloist with numerous orchestras in Europe, including tours of Spain, Switzerland and Austra with the Cincinnati Symphony, and in Australia with the Sydney, Adelaide and Tasmanian symphony orchestras.

Past seasons have included performances in Asia with the Korean Broadcasting Symphony, Japan Philharmonic, and the Singapore Symphony. She has also appeared with the Berlin Radio Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Orchestra, Lisbon Symphony, Salzburger Kammerphilharmonie, and Munich Philharmonic, and made her debut at Italy’s Ravello Festival and the Netherlands’ Royal Concertgebouw.

As a chamber musician, Park is a founding member of the Los Angeles-based Lyris Quartet, which curates the Hear Now new music festival. The quartet is the resident ensemble for the Jacaranda music series in Santa Monica and has performed as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Green Umbrella series, has been featured at the Hollywood Bowl and debuted with the Los Angeles Master Chorale earlier this season.