Klarinet Archive - Posting 000905.txt from 1998/04

From: Hat NYC 62 <HatNYC62@-----.com>
Subj: Re: klarinet-digest V2 #78
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 06:05:26 -0400

>>While the argument that principal clarinet positions should be more
exclusionary might seem more reasonable on the surface, but that would
exclude people like Ricardo Morales, for example, who won the Met position
at age 21. <<

Sorry, that argument doesn't wash in this instance. Ricardo paid his dues with
several seasons as principal clarinetist of a smaller orchestra before he went
to the Metropolitan Opera.

Basically, the NSO (and most other big orchestras) are doing inexperienced
students a favor by not inviting them. IF your student made it to the final
round, the screen would come down and her resume would then be examined by the
committee and the Music Director. Unless she outplayed every other candidate
by a lot, the fact that she is not in a position right now and probably has
little experience would count against her. In other words, all other things
being equal in the finals of an audition, the more experienced candidate is
often chosen on that basis.

In any case, the fact that she has won solo competitions means little to an
orchestra. Many winners of ICS and other competitions do nothing in the
professional world.

In the meantime, Personnel Managers deal with irate phone calls all the time.
To dismiss this person as arrogant is to forget that he didn't make the
decision not to invite your student. In fact, if you had written or called Mr.
Kitt, he might have made an exception for your student, as he teaches himself.
What you have now accomplished is to anger this person who will undoubtedly
tell Mr. Kitt about your conversation. This hurts your student!

There are several other auditions this spring, including one in Ft. Wayne,
Indiana which is taking place on the same day as the NSO. This position is
much more likely to be won by a student than the one in Washington. Perhaps
you should encourage your student to audition there.