Klarinet Archive - Posting 000741.txt from 1996/04

From: Terry Oxley <oxley@-----.EDU>
Subj: contest lists
Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 14:58:24 -0400

Perhaps I can shed some "old" light on the selection of solos for
contest lists, as I was involved in the Wisconsin selection process some
20 years ago.

At that time, the solo lists (Class A,B and C) were reviewed every
three years by a person asked to serve on the selection committee. This
committee changed nearly every year I was paying attention to it...no
musical inbreeding to my knowledge. The reviewers name is submitted to
publishers and they are invited to submit any works they want considered
for the list, directly to the member selecting that group. After looking
through the submissions (I can only speak for myself in discussing the
time taken, but I read through every submission with an accompanist
evaluating them for acceptability.) I made up the lists for submission.
The list of 10 in each class is sent to a review committee of three along
with the actual pieces selected. If the publishers do not send it, it can
not go on the list unless one is willing to give up one's own copy. Some
publishers are much more responsive than others when it comes to specific
requests for literature.

I also served as a review committee member and I can say from
experience that the committee was reluctant to throw out much of the work
done by the original volunteer, but wherever something seemed too far out
of place, a change was made.

Budget is also a problem considering change as many schools
purchase a library of judges copies for their students to make use of. A
subjectively better edition that costs $25 a copy isn't always in the best
interest of the student. I would rather one of my students had been
exposed to a "bad" edition of the Mozart than have no idea of its
existance because someone decided the approved edition was too expensive.

These committees are usually made up of volunteer band directors
who have plenty to do but are trying to support their state professional
organizations through service. I think we have to give them credit for
doing the best they can under their particular circumstances. I am
assuming that the selection process is essentially the same today, but
welcome any comments.

Terry

Terry Oxley
Department of Music
Bloomsburg University
Bloomsburg Pennsylvania
oxley@-----.edu