Auburn Symphony's new concertmaster has lengthy – and impressive – résumé

Charles "Chase" Spruill has been hired as the Auburn Symphony's concertmaster, the lead or "first chair" violinist. Spruill will take up his wide-ranging responsibilities in the symphony's 2022-23 season, from tuning the orchestra to working closely with conductor Ryan Murray. "I am beyond thrilled to be welcoming Chase to the Auburn Symphony family as our new concertmaster," Murray said. "He is a fantastic musician, a wonderful educator and a great person. Chase and I have worked together on many projects over the years – all the way back to 2003. I know he will be a wonderful addition to the symphony, and I really look forward to his tenure as concertmaster of the orchestra." Spruill comes to the Auburn Symphony with a long, varied and successful musical career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral violinist and educator. He was an artist-in-residence and founding violinist of Sacramento State University's contemporary chamber music ensemble before accepting a residency at the nationally celebrated not-for-profit organization MusicWorks in Providence, Rhode Island, where he served as a core faculty member and resident musician from 2012-17. He was appointed a visiting professor of violin at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, from 2015-17. An enthusiastic promoter and performer of contemporary music, Spruill reached out early on to composer Michael Riesman, the longtime director of the Philip Glass Ensemble, about arranging a suite for violin and piano the two could play together. The contact fostered a fruitful collaboration. Spruill and Riesman toured and recorded together and in 2016 issued Glass' "Candyman Suite," Spruill's debut recording. In 2021, Strings magazine listed Spruill as "one of the noteworthy interpreters of the music of leading American composer Philip Glass." Spruill's solo debut, with music by Riesman, was released in 2019. This year, Spruill issued the solo violin album "A Common Time," featuring arrangements of works by Glass. "I'm really excited that new recordings are coming out this year and next," Spruill said. "I'm so thrilled to have the opportunity to keep working with Supertrain Records and Orange Mountain Music." Kronos Quartet, Emmanuel Ax and the Silk Road Project with Yo-Yo Ma are just a few other names in the long list of musicians Spruill has collaborated and performed with. Spruill has a longtime association with the Auburn Symphony. He filled in as concertmaster first under Maestro Michael Goodwin and later under Music Director and Conductor Peter Jaffe. "It's been many years of having an emotional, impactful relationship with the Auburn Symphony," he said. Spruill's history with Murray, the symphony's newly chosen music director, dates to when they met at Sacramento State. Over the ensuing years, they have often collaborated as friends and musicians. "He's always been one of the most grounded, lovely, versatile people I've ever known, and he happens to be a wonderful musician," Spruill said. "His collaborative style is so well-informed and passionate and conversational. I'm incredibly excited to have the chance to work with him in this capacity again, and I'm happy Auburn will have a chance to get to know him this way, too." Spruill sees his work as concertmaster as helping to guide and translate the music director's vision to the orchestra, trusting that he, the director and the players are all there to do the same thing – create an accessible, high-level experience in music making for the audience. The music making coming this season, he says, promises to be dynamic, diverse, invigorating and surprising. "There's truly something for everyone. It's an absolute signpost of Maestro Murray being in the saddle," Spruill said. "I suspect people are going to be moving in their chairs and celebrating and high-fiving each other in the parking lots after concerts. I'm really excited by the programming for the season!" Spruill spent the greatest part of his school life in Vacaville, where he decided at age 10 he wanted to be a professional violinist, musician and educator. He now teaches music at a K-8 school in Vacaville. Outside of making music, Spruill says, "My 11-year-old son Charlie is the center of my life."