<P> The most common seating arrangement in the 2000s is with first violins , second violins , violas and cello sections arrayed clockwise around the conductor , with basses behind the cellos on the right . The first violins are led by the concertmaster ( leader in the UK ) ; each of the other string sections also has a principal player ( principal second violin , principal viola , principal cello and principal bass ) who play the orchestral solos for the section , lead entrances and , in some cases , determine the bowings for the section ( the concertmaster / leader may set the bowings for all strings , or just for the upper strings ) . The principal string players sit at the front of their section , closest to the conductor and on the row of performers which is closest to the audience . </P>
<P> The most common seating arrangement in the 2000s is with first violins , second violins , violas and cello sections arrayed clockwise around the conductor , with basses behind the cellos on the right . The first violins are led by the concertmaster ( leader in the UK ) ; each of the other string sections also has a principal player ( principal second violin , principal viola , principal cello and principal bass ) who play the orchestral solos for the section , lead entrances and , in some cases , determine the bowings for the section ( the concertmaster / leader may set the bowings for all strings , or just for the upper strings ) . The principal string players sit at the front of their section , closest to the conductor and on the row of performers which is closest to the audience . </P>
which instrument performers in a symphony orchestra sit closest to the conductor
which instrument performers in a symphony orchestra sit closest to the conductor
first violins second violins violas cello
first violins second violins violas cello