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The Changing Face of the Orchestra

Important First Players in the Orchestra

When the orchestra was founded in 1881, the ensemble was exclusively male and predominantly Western European (though many players were immigrants to the U.S.). Here are the stories of a few of the orchestra's important first players who have helped to shape the future face of the orchestra.

Then and Now: The BSO in 1914 and in 2019

(Photographer unknown - upper portrait; Marco Borggreve - lower portrait)

Women Firsts: Lydia B. White, harp, 1914; Anne de Guichard, bassoon, 1945; Doriot Anthony Dwyer, principal flute, 1952

A black and white poster depicting the BSO on Symphony Hall stage, with one woman seated at the harp on the left of the stage — Orchestra portrait with conductor Karl Muck, from the 1914-15 season

Lydia B. White (BSO second harp, 1914-1915) was the first woman to appear on the BSO roster, replacing Vaclav Klička, whose busy solo concert schedule appears to have taken him away from the BSO. She remained on the roster until early April, when Theodore Cella replaced her. (Photographer unknown)

A woman stands next to a table and chair looking down at parts of a bassoon that she appears to be fitting together — Anne de Guichard (BSO bassoon, 1945-1947) assembles the pieces of her bassoon

Anne de Guichard was the first woman to join the BSO in a position other than harp. As in other industries across the country, World War II created new opportunities for women seeking to enter fields formerly dominated by men. (David Nilsson)

Two women and a man play flutes while seated on stage — The BSO flute section, between 1971-1978

Left to right: Lois Schaefer, James Pappoutsakis, Doriot Anthony Dwyer. Dwyer joined the BSO in 1952 as its first woman principal player, a position she would hold for 38 years. (Photographer unknown)

First Black Player: Ortiz Walton, double bass, 1957

Double bass player Ortiz Walton sits with his double bass and bow — Portrait of Ortiz Walton (BSO double bass, 1957-1962)

In 1957, Walton was the first Black musician to join the BSO. (United Press International)

Scan of newspaper clipping from the Baltimore Afro-American showing Ortiz Walton standing with his double bass — Clipping from the Baltimore Afro-American highlighting Walton’s new position at the BSO, October 12, 1957

First Asian Player: Ikuko Mizuno, violin, 1969

Portrait of Ikuko Mizuno (BSO violin, 1969-present)

Ikuko Mizuno was the first woman in the BSO’s violin section, and the first Asian player to join the orchestra. (Photographer unknown)

A row of student string players perform on their instruments while a young Seiji Ozawa sits on the floor and conducts — A practice session at the Toho Gakuen School of Music

Aspiring conductor Seiji Ozawa leads several student musicians (including future BSO violinist Mizuno, seated fourth from the right against the chalkboard), in a practice session at the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo. (Photographer unknown)

The full orchestra is seated on Symphony Hall stage with one woman in the violin section and Ann Hobson Pilot at one harp — Orchestra portrait with Music Director William Steinberg, fall 1969

Mizuno can be found sitting in the violin section surrounded by men. (Seated in the back is another new BSO member, Ann Hobson Pilot on harp.) (Photography Incorporated)

Program cover and page with musician headshots and biographies for Ann Ho — Page from the program book for the 1969-70 season highlighting the biographies of new BSO members Pilot (harp) and Mizuno (violin)

First Black principal player: Ann Hobson Pilot, 1980

Ann Hobson Pilot joined the BSO in 1969 as its first Black woman player, and in 1980 became the orchestra's first Black principal player.

Three women are seated on stage with their instruments, from left to right, Lois Schaefer with flute, Ann Hobson Pilot on harp and Carol Procter on cello — The New England Harp Trio

The New England Harp Trio, founded by Pilot in 1971, was comprised of women BSO players: Lois Schaefer (flute), Pilot (harp), and Carol Procter (cello). (Walter H. Scott)

Composer John Williams and soloist Ann Hobson Pilot after the premiere performance of "On Willows and Birches," Concerto for Harp and Orchestra, on September 23, 2009

John Williams wrote his harp concerto for Pilot to honor her on her retirement after 40 years with the orchestra. (Michael Lutch)

Looking Ahead

A group of musicians stand in the balcony in Symphony Hall holding their instruments — Detail from the BSO’s full orchestra portrait with Andris Nelsons, Music Director, taken in 2019

(Marco Borggreve)

Seven musician headshots arranged in a collage — New BSO members for the 2022-2023 season

From top left across: Andrew Sandwick (bass clarinet), Christopher Elchico (clarinet), Jenny Ahn (violin), Takumi Taguchi (violin), Russell Allyn (library), Sophie Wang (violin), Will Chow (cello). As seven fresh faces join the BSO, the orchestra looks to a future of increasing inclusion and diversity. (Photographs of Elchico, Ahn, and Wang by Robert Torres, all other photographers unknown)