One was his own tradition of featuring the orchestra's first-chair players as soloists - in this case, three players who joined the orchestra during his tenure.

Before that, however, a tradition will continue as first-chair players in the orchestra take their turn as soloists.

There was an opportunity to improve the group significantly by using first-chair players from major orchestras: specifically, the Russians were coming.

In selecting performers for the chamber concerts, Mr. Levine, attentive to protocol, begins by asking the first-chair players if they want to participate.

(The Pops comprises everyone in the Boston Symphony except first-chair players.)

One is basically the Boston Symphony minus its first-chair players.

There are bats that buzz the first-chair players and songbirds that don't follow orders.

This situation has led to extravagant soloist fees that can, in some cases, amount to a full year's salary for a first-chair player.

But he said the orchestra with its heavy influx of Russians and other immigrants and some first-chair players who are non-Jews provided an object lesson in harmony.

Players negotiate their contracts individually, and all Philharmonic musicians make more than the minimum, with first-chair players earning six-figure salaries.