Klarinet Archive - Posting 000982.txt from 1998/04

From: David McClune <dmcclune@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Orchestra auditions
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 19:19:45 -0400

I have a second hand story of last year's principal Bassoon auditions for
the Cleveland Orchestra. They, according to my source, only take one player
from a major orchestra to come in, normally the first player. The associate
(may of been assistant) principal of the Montreal Symphony was NOT invited
because of this policy. John called a close friend in the Memphis Symphony
(where he played before winning Montreal) who had played oboe in a summer
festival with Frank Cohen and asked her to call Frank and see if the
committee would reconsider. They did invite him and John Clouser is now the
Principal bassoon at Cleveland. By the way, John's degrees are in
Philosophy, and started bassoon in college!!! Having played beside John in
Memphis, I can say he earned that chair; he is a tremendous musician and
bassoonist.

Dr. David McClune
Professor of Clarinet
Director of Bands
Union University
Jackson, TN 38305
901-661-5294-office