Jackie Tso named Second Concertmaster in expansion of artistic leadership at Asheville Symphony.

The Asheville Symphony is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Brian Allen as its new First Concertmaster, beginning with the 2025–2026 season. Allen will make his official debut in this leadership role at Symphony in the Park, the Symphony’s free community concert at Pack Square Park, on Sunday, August 31, 2025.

A seasoned orchestral musician and educator, Allen currently serves as Principal Second Violinist of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, and recently held a one-year contract with the St. Louis Symphony. He holds a Doctorate in Violin Performance from the University of Michigan, where he studied with David Halen. Allen earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with Jaime Laredo and William Preucil.

The Asheville Symphony’s concertmaster search drew five national finalists, each of whom led the orchestra in a Masterworks performance during the 2024–2025 season. Allen succeeds Jason Posnock, who held the role for over 15 years before becoming President and CEO of the Brevard Music Center. “Brian is a brilliant artist, garnering sincere and effusive praise from an overwhelming majority of musicians regarding his raw talent, musicality, and joyful presence within the orchestra,” said Asheville Symphony Executive Director Daniel Crupi. “I am confident he will be an ideal artistic partner for Darko and an outstanding leader for the next chapter of the Asheville Symphony’s musical legacy.”

In a landmark expansion of its artistic leadership, the Asheville Symphony has also appointed its first-ever Second Concertmaster, Jackie Tso, who will likewise begin in the 2025–2026 season.

Tso is a dynamic violinist who has performed as a soloist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Beijing Broadcasting Orchestra, and the Santa Fe Concert Association Orchestra. A graduate of The Juilliard School, Tso studied with Li Lin. Tso has played in many prestigious competitions including the Premio Paganini, Yehudi Menuhin, Shanghai Isaac Stern, Zhuhai Mozart, and Cooper. She was a semifinalist of the International Jascha Heifetz Competition as well as the Irving M. Klein. She is currently the Concertmaster of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra.

Both Allen and Tso played in the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s violin section for their 2022-2023 season.

As First and Second Concertmaster, both Allen and Tso will serve as the orchestra’s principal musicians and play a critical leadership role within the ensemble. In addition to leading the first violin section, the concertmaster will work closely with Asheville Symphony Music Director Darko Butorac to shape the orchestra’s artistic direction.

“I am really happy we were able to attract two such excellent musicians,” said Asheville Symphony Music Director Darko Butorac.  “I look forward to working with them and growing the orchestra together on new artistic paths.”