David Weber (clarinetist) - Orchestral Career

Orchestral Career

Weber's orchestral career began at age 25, with a 1938 audition for Arturo Toscanini, who personally hired Weber on the spot to play in the NBC Symphony. Weber played with the orchestra for two years as associate principal and e-flat clarinet, but was replaced just before the orchestra's 1940 tour of South America for a more experienced player. He instead went on to audition for Erich Leinsdorf, head of German repertoire at the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, who awarded him the principal clarinet position, which he held from 1940-1943.

Weber went on to serve as assistant principal in the New York Philharmonic under former teacher Simeon Bellison. He held this position from 1943–1944 and took part in Leonard Bernstein's debut on November 14, 1943. He was principal clarinetist in the CBS Symphony Orchestra from 1946–1952, and then assumed the same position in the Symphony of the Air (the successor to the NBC Symphony) under Leopold Stokowski from 1954-1957. After serving as the assistant principal for several years, in 1964, he became principal clarinetist in the New York City Ballet Orchestra, a position he held until his retirement from performing in 1986. While he was a member of the orchestra, legendary choreographer Jerome Robbins created a ballet to Igor Stravinsky's Three Pieces for Solo Clarinet, featuring only Weber's playing.