Seattle Symphony Names a Concertmaster.

Ending a yearlong experiment, the Seattle Symphony is cutting its concertmaster contingent to one from four. The orchestra said it named Maria Larionoff to the position after the players' union objected to multiple leaders. Last summer the orchestra's music director, Gerard Schwarz, named a quartet of violinists, including Ms. Larionoff, to share the post, saying ''it doesn't make sense'' to have one person, given the length of the season. On Friday Mr. Schwarz called the arrangement a ''tremendous artistic success'' but said Ms. Larionoff, the associate concertmaster since 1997, would take over. ''The way she has embraced this new position speaks volumes about her remarkable talent and ability to lead the orchestra,'' he said. Tom Philion, the executive director, said the other three players -- Ani Kavafian, Emmanuelle Boisvert and Frank Almond -- would continue to appear with the orchestra. Michael Crusoe, the leader of the union, said it had protested the four-concertmaster arrangement as a contract violation. Mr. Philion said the appointment, which was part of a deal reached with the union, would address their concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]